The 2024 Italy–Africa Summit took place in Rome on January 28–29. Hosted by the government of Italy, the summit was attended by representatives of forty-five African countries as well as the African Union. 
Background.
The summit was held within the context of a rise in immigration from North Africa to Italy, particularly by using boats to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Following the 2022 Italian general election, Giorgia Meloni of the Brothers of Italy became Prime Minister, after running on a platform of curbing illegal immigration and soft Euroscepticism. The announcement of the summit was seen as Meloni attempting to increase the status of Italy's foreign policy and curb immigration.
Summit.
The summit was hosted in the Palazzo Madama in Rome. President Sergio Matterella received the heads of the delegations in the Quirinale Palace on 28 January.
A central focus of the summit was the unveiling of the Mattei Plan, a strategic initiative named after Enrico Mattei, founder of the Italian energy giant Eni. With an annual budget of 3 billion euros over four years, the plan seeks to address the root economic causes of mass migration, emphasizing energy cooperation, investment in health and education, and critical infrastructure development. However, the Mattei Plan faces challenges, including Italy's financial constraints and competition with global players in Africa. Critics question its feasibility and suggest a need for a clearer strategy.
Italy announced an initial 5.5 billion euro investment for the plan.
Participating countries.
Representatives of forty-five countries from Africa as well as the African Union attended the meeting. This included more thaan 20 head of states as well as representatives from the European Union.
The participants included:
Non-head of state or head of government delegations were present from Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia. Various international organizations including the IMF, IEA, World Bank, and United Nations were also represented.
Aftermath.
Italy, coinciding with its G7 presidency in 2024, emphasizes strategic partnerships with Africa, and is set to invite the leaders of four African countries and the African Union to the G7 summit in Rome in June 2024.
References.
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