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The Mattei Plan moves forward as Rome strengthens political and economic partnerships with African nations
Italy is set to take a significant new step in its engagement with Africa by hosting the second Italy–Africa Summit at the level of Heads of State and Government on 13 February in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The announcement, anticipated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during her annual press conference at the start of the year, confirms Italy’s determination to consolidate strategic relations with the African continent and advance the objectives of the Mattei Plan for Africa, launched in Rome in January 2024.
The upcoming summit represents a symbolic and substantive milestone. For the first time, the Italy–Africa Summit will be held on African soil, underscoring a partnership approach based on dialogue, proximity, and shared responsibility. The meeting will take place alongside the African Union Summit and on the eve of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government, reinforcing its political relevance within the broader continental agenda. In this context, Prime Minister Meloni will participate as guest of honour in the opening plenary session of the African Union Assembly, scheduled for the morning of Saturday, 14 February.
Conceived as a biennial forum, the Italy–Africa Summit aims to provide a stable and high-level platform for political dialogue and economic cooperation between Italy and African countries. Hosting the second edition in Addis Ababa sends a clear message: Italy intends to engage Africa as an equal partner, listening to its priorities and working together on long-term solutions to shared challenges. This approach is at the heart of the Mattei Plan, which seeks to redefine Italy’s relationship with Africa beyond traditional aid models, focusing instead on mutually beneficial cooperation.
Two years after its official presentation, the Mattei Plan has emerged as a central pillar of Italy’s foreign policy. Named after Enrico Mattei, the visionary founder of Italy’s energy company ENI and a pioneer of equitable partnerships with producing countries, the plan is structured around key strategic axes. These include sustainable development, infrastructure, energy, education and vocational training, healthcare, and agriculture. The overarching goal is to promote inclusive growth, economic resilience, and local capacity-building across African nations, while also contributing to stability in the wider Mediterranean and European regions.
The Addis Ababa summit will offer an opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved so far. Italian institutions, companies, and development actors have increased their presence on the continent through coordinated “system missions,” political dialogue, and joint projects aligned with African development strategies. The evaluation of these initiatives will be central to the discussions, allowing leaders to assess what has worked, identify remaining gaps, and adjust priorities where necessary.
At the same time, the summit will look ahead. Together with African partners, Italy aims to define concrete operational priorities for the coming years, ensuring that cooperation initiatives respond to real needs and deliver measurable results. Energy transition projects, modern infrastructure corridors, agricultural development to enhance food security, and investments in education and training—particularly for young people—are expected to feature prominently on the agenda.
By aligning the Italy–Africa Summit with the African Union’s highest decision-making forum, Rome is also signaling its support for African-led multilateralism and continental integration. The choice of Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa, reinforces the political weight of the initiative and highlights Italy’s willingness to engage constructively with African institutions, not just individual states.
Ultimately, the second Italy–Africa Summit marks a new chapter in Italy’s Africa policy. It reflects a long-term vision based on partnership, respect, and shared interests, moving beyond short-term objectives toward a structured political and economic relationship. As the Mattei Plan continues to evolve, the Addis Ababa meeting stands as a key moment to strengthen trust, deepen cooperation, and lay the foundations for a common future between Italy and Africa.
Alessandro Fiorentino