African Union Commission calls for ‘paradigm shift’ at Italy-Africa summit
GuardianJan 29
Italy's Meloni Announces Plan to Invest in African Energy, Curb Migration
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The Facts
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosted African leaders on Monday, as she opened a summit aimed at boosting economic development throughout Africa and stemming migration to Europe.
Opening the summit, Meloni announced a plan to invest €5.5B($5.9B) in sectors across Africa to boost energy production. Named after the founder of Italy’s state-owned energy company Eni, the Mattei Plan will focus on African energy, agriculture, water, health, and education.
The Spin
Right narrative
Giorgia Meloni is showing bold leadership as she looks to boost investment in Africa, strengthening its energy sector while also addressing root causes of migration to Europe. Meloni’s ambitious plan focuses on partnership with Africa and treats the continent’s countries as equals without being predatory or patronizing. In addition to boosting growth in Africa, the plan also looks to create alternative energy hubs that will reduce Europe’s reliance on Russia. While Meloni’s plan certainly has a lot of moving parts, it should be commended for its focus on improving relations between many different countries and improving the lives of millions of people.
Left narrative
While Italy's plan to invest in Africa certainly is ambitious, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about Meloni's motives and the proposals' potential efficacy. Meloni’s far-right government vaulted to power with its anti-migrant rhetoric, and it seems that she is now trying to pay off countries to stem migration. Moreover, while she says that she views African countries as equals, it is hard to not see her desire to grow African energy as a neocolonial project that exploits Africa’s resources for the benefit of Europe. We should hold our breath before applauding Meloni’s new Africa plan.
