Addis Ababa, February 13, 2026 (FMC) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the Mattei Plan has evolved into an operational strategy delivering tangible results, emphasizing that Italy-Africa relations must be grounded in equal partnership and free from dependency.
The 2nd Italy-Africa Summit was held today in Addis Ababa, co-hosted and presided over by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy. The one-day meeting brought together African heads of state and government, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and high-level delegates from Italy, African countries, and international and multilateral institutions.
Addressing the summit, Meloni said Italy had taken a “very challenging commitment” to write a new chapter in its relations with Africa by building a model of cooperation based on trust, mutual respect, and equality, far from paternalism or predatory approaches. She noted that historically, Africa’s potential had often been overlooked, and Italy has worked to change that since the first Italy-Africa Summit two years ago.
She highlighted that the Mattei Plan is no longer merely an Italian initiative but a strategic framework, strengthened through partnerships with the United Nations, European Union, African Union, G7, World Bank, and other international actors. The plan, she said, is now operational and generating tangible results, including billions of euros invested in projects with significant social impact.
Meloni stressed that the objective is not a collection of isolated initiatives, but a pact of free nations working together for mutual benefit. Key areas include energy interconnection across the Mediterranean, renewable energy, and biofuels, guided by technological neutrality to ensure a sustainable green transition compatible with economic systems.
She also highlighted the creation of a new public-private partnership model. Initiatives under the Mattei Plan support food security, local businesses, employment, technology innovation, and water access, while reinforcing physical and digital infrastructure to integrate African economies into global markets.
Healthcare systems have also benefited from strengthened cooperation, she said, alongside efforts in industrial development and private sector growth, particularly focused on Africa’s youth. Education and human capital development underpin all projects, aiming to empower African nations rather than create dependency. She cited a $5 billion campaign with Nigeria and the Global Partnership for Education to improve schooling quality for 750 million children in over 90 countries.
Meloni stressed that Africa must process its own raw materials and develop its agricultural resources, enabling countries to benefit directly from their wealth. On migration, she said Italy is focused on tackling root causes, preventing young people from leaving their home countries, rather than exploiting migration for low-cost labor. She described this as a shared responsibility, not a short-term compromise.
She emphasized that the summit was not a celebration of past achievements, but an opportunity to enhance the efficiency and pragmatism of the Mattei Plan. Success depends on continuous learning, listening, and fine-tuning strategies based on experience and African wisdom.
In closing, Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to continue working alongside African nations in a spirit of shared responsibility, equality, and tangible outcomes. “The results we have achieved are seeds sown for a richer and more thriving future,” she said, underlining the ongoing partnership’s long-term vision.