Italy’s 5.5 Billion Euro Plan for Africa Stirs Debate at G7 Summit
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a substantial investment package this week, amounting to 5.5 billion euros aimed at Africa. This initiative, unveiled during the first Africa-Italy summit under the G7 trans-Alpine presidency, reflects Rome’s ongoing effort to influence migration pressures and security concerns tied to unauthorized crossings. The announcement followed a moment of high-level dialogue with African leaders that drew both attention and criticism from human rights groups and international observers.
The president explained that the 5.5 billion euros would be allocated as a mix of loans, donations, and guarantees, with roughly 3 billion channeled through the Italian Climate Fund and about 2.5 billion via the Development Cooperation Fund. Meloni stressed that the plan alone may not be sufficient and called on other international donors to participate. She noted that the plan carries the name of Enrico Mattei, honoring the influential Italian entrepreneur who died in 1962.
Meloni framed the investment as part of a broader policy approach to assist African nations economically while addressing migration concerns. Critics from some human rights organizations argued that the proposal should be paired with concrete actions to protect migrants and uphold rights, rather than relying on deportation debates that have surfaced in past discussions with authorities in Tunisia and other countries.
For Africa, without Africa
In advance of the talks, Meloni convened a summit in Rome with 22 African heads of state and government, as well as representatives from international bodies, including the African Union and the European Union. The right wing has argued that massive illegal migration will never be stopped unless the underlying causes compel people to leave their homes are addressed, and proclaimed a firm stance against human traffickers. The emphasis was on a multi-pronged effort to reduce trafficking networks while expanding legitimate economic opportunities for African communities.
However, the path ahead appears challenging. Moussa Faki, president of the African Union, noted that Italy had not consulted the AU in preparing the plan. He stated that consultations should have occurred and emphasized the need to move from words to actions, warning against promises that are not kept. The sentiment behind this critique points to the necessity of genuine collaboration with African institutions to ensure the plan aligns with regional priorities and yields measurable outcomes.
A voice from within Italy, Aboubakar Soumahoro, who serves as a member of parliament and has Ivory Coast roots, cautioned that the plan risks being drafted without sufficient input from Africa. Sources indicate that Meloni’s proposal intends to fund projects across a broad area including Tunisia, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Mozambique, Egypt, Congo, Ethiopia, and Kenya, highlighting a wide geographic scope intended to spur development and reduce push factors prompting migration.
As discussions unfold, observers are watching to see how these financial commitments translate into on-the-ground results and how African partners participate in shaping the implementation. Analysts note that effective governance, transparent use of funds, and alignment with local development needs will be essential to the plan’s credibility and long-term impact on regional stability. The overarching question remains whether the initiative can deliver tangible improvements while addressing the political and human rights dimensions that accompany large-scale investment and migration policy decisions. Reuters report