Since assuming office, Giorgia Meloni’s administration has implemented an unusually conventional foreign policy. Unwavering support for Ukraine, full participation in the EU, and allegiance to the Atlantic Alliance are the cornerstones of a commitment that appears to be wholly in line with the leading European nations.
Nevertheless, the prime minister has defied convention in his approach to Africa, emphasizing the unattainable nature of the foreign policy of the right-wing nationalist alliance. Meloni has been conducting additional journeys to the south subsequent to the Italy-Africa summit in January. He traveled to Egypt and Tunisia in March and April to establish the groundwork for bilateral agreements on cooperation in the fields of education, water, and agriculture. Last week, Italy reaffirmed its support for the Sahel region during the G7 meeting of foreign ministers in Capri, demonstrating its dedication to Africa.
What is Meloni actually accomplishing in Africa? How can we interpret her shift toward the continent, and how does it elucidate her own ascent to prominence through the gradual transformation that has resulted in her becoming Italy’s first female chief of state?
Formulating the Mattei strategy
In order to address these inquiries, it is crucial to revisit the original iterations of the Mattei Plan for Africa. The policy, which was initially introduced on October 25, 2022, during Meloni’s investiture speech to the Chamber of Deputies, was named after Enrico Mattei, a renowned Christian-Democrat resistance warrior and the founder of the massive oil company ENI. This event is a significant occasion during which every government typically discloses its agenda. The strategy was introduced on that day as a means of reducing Islamic radicalism in sub-Saharan Africa by fostering collaboration between the European Union and the African continent.
This comment was unexpected at the time because it did not appear to correspond with any previous political trajectory. The Mattei plan for Africa has been the subject of intense scrutiny since that time, resulting in significant frustration among Italy’s allies as they endeavor to ascertain the plan’s specifics. Although it appears that the reference to Mattei is intended to conjure up a consensus national figure for Meloni, it also signifies a specific position for ENI, the Italian energy and gas giant that has long been a key actor in Italy’s international projection.
Departing from the Mediterranean.
It is crucial to underscore the innovative nature of the demand for an African policy in Italy. The “enlarged Mediterranean” has been the primary focus of Italy’s foreign policy initiatives for an extended period.
Fratelli d’Italia, the political party of Giorgia Meloni, is not an exception to this deeply ingrained tendency. This concept of the Mediterranean, however, is subject to certain constraints due to its inconsistency with the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM) vision, which encompasses both of the Mediterranean’s shores, and the diverse European policies that address the challenges faced by member states that border the Mediterranean. Consequently, the concept of African strategy could be perceived as Italy’s timely elucidation. It is also essential to remember that, albeit implicitly, it employs a historical line of Italian nationalism from the late 19th century, which connects colonialism in Africa to the confirmation of the post-Risorgimento nation’s very existence—a mechanism that fascism would adopt.
In the same vein as her progenitors
However, Meloni is not entirely a trailblazer. During his tenure as the head of state from 2014 to 2016, Matteo Renzi visited nine African nations and promoted investments in the continent in a manner that was strikingly identical to the Mattei Plan.
This policy was implemented by the administration of Paolo Gentiloni from 2016 to 2018. Marco Minniti, the Interior Minister, dispatched a military contingent to Niger, which was the first time the Italian Republic had ever set foot on African soil. He also expressed his support for the development of African nations in order to halt the influx of immigrants at the source. The Meloni administration, which associated it with the Mattei Plan, discovered appeal in the concept of a connection between the fight against immigration and the development of Africa. However, the latter were devoid of significance for an extended period.
This all altered on January 29, 2024, during the Italy-Africa meeting in Rome. The participation of 26 heads of state and government, as well as representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union, in the Italian Senate encircling Meloni was a significant turning point. Italy has announced 5.5 billion euros in investment and pilot projects in nine countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire). The partners appear to appreciate the Italian approach, which does not intend to impose a pre-packaged plan on African partners. In contrast, they experience a sense of active inclusion rather than being lectured at. It is true that the concrete opportunities may seem to be scarce. Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy, was aware that the concept was further elevated to a European level by the presence of Ursula Von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.
Italy’s historical ties to Africa
Italy has a profound African heritage. The importance of ENI, the state-owned energy and gas corporation that occupies a prominent position on the continent, has already been addressed. Nevertheless, it is not the sole organization that is exploring business opportunities in Africa. Other substantial organizations, such as the energy behemoth ENEL and the water services management group ACEA, have also expressed interest in participating in the initial energy and environmental experimental projects. The Comboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the Community of Sant’Egidio, which have acted as peacemakers in conflicts such as the civil war in Mozambique, are also significant Italian Catholic networks in Africa. It is essential to remember their existence.
Consequently, we observe an uncommonly robust connection between Italian actors and African non-governmental actors. The Mattei plan of the Meloni government may appear to be limited in scope due to its current ambiguity. However, if it is successful in federating domestic actors and opens up to foreign players, led by the European Union, it may experience an amplifying effect. China and Russia are employing policies that combine resource acquisition and influence to advance their puppets in Africa. However, the European presence is currently under scrutiny, particularly in light of the coup that resulted in the removal of the French military presence, which is frequently disregarded.
Implementing measures to resolve the fundamental causes of immigration
From this perspective, it is crucial to remember that the Italian military training mission continues to operate in Niger, a circumstance that the newly elected officials in Niamey appreciate. This was not contested during the 2023 rebellion attempt. Italy prefers to present itself as a nation that is free of post-colonial issues, thereby relegating its past in the Horn of Africa and Libya to the annals of history. Consequently, a more prominent role for Italy on the continent, in collaboration with the EU, could contribute to the revitalization of Europe’s image and actions in that region.
It is evident that Meloni and Sergio Mattarella’s travels, which occur prior to the European elections, enable them to assert that genuine progress has been achieved in the fight against immigration from the southern shores by emphasizing the “treatment at the source” of the issue—a subject that has remained prominent on the political agenda in Italy since the tragic landings in 2013. Meloni, who is confronted with Lega party head Matteo Salvini’s efforts to avoid her on the right, therefore finds Italy’s African policy initiative to be logical. Nevertheless, it also responds to a variety of broader factors that underscore the complexity and importance of Italy’s relationship with Africa.
