Italy’s African plan gains momentum

Italy’s African plan gains momentum

Italy’s focused Mattei Plan for Africa has taken solid steps towards implementation.

Under the direct supervision of Prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, the Matttei plan for Africa has made significant progress in strengthening ties between Italy and especially North Africa.

The Mattei Plan brings together multiple stakeholders on both continents, including regional and autonomous communities, state and private-owned enterprises, trade associations and cooperation organizations.

Its activities are run by a steering committee placed under the direct supervision of the prime minister.

Although it was initially focused on Maghreb countries and later expanded to the sub-Saharan region, namely Mozambique (where Eni has a major gas extraction operation in the Rovuma Basin), as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya and Ivory Coast.

First steps delivers results

According to Teresa Nogueira Pinto at the Geopolitical Intelligence Services a gradual implementation of the plan has already delivered significant results.

“For example, Italy’s relations with Tunisia have deepened, especially in the energy and agricultural sectors. Prime Minister Meloni’s administration provides diplomatic support for President Kais Saied and, in return, Tunisia has bolstered its commitment to curbing irregular migration flows to Italy,” says Pinto.

A flagship initiative for the near future is the ELMED project, a planned electricity interconnection linking Tunisia and Italy across the Mediterranean.

Pinto adds that ties with Egypt have likewise strengthened, expanding into emerging fields such as green hydrogen, while Italy has also played a key role in the EU’s decision to designate Egypt a “safe third country” for the return of asylum seekers.

Algeria, meanwhile, has become Italy’s primary supplier of natural gas, since Italy accelerated its diversification away from Russian energy.

Centre of gravity in North Africa

Interesting to note that a few sources are of the opinion that as Africa becomes an increasingly competitive geopolitical arena, there could be a deepening of strategic trilateral relations between Italy, African states and non-Western actors, namely Gulf countries.

“This could further shift Africa’s economic and security centre of gravity toward North Africa at the expense of Southern Africa,” a recent report about possible scenarios states.

Image: Italian Prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s meeting with the President of Angola João Lourenço. From Wikimedia

Italy’s African plan gains momentum