Keypoints:
- Italy unveils €5.5bn Africa investment package
- Plan targets jobs and energy to cut migration
- Critics say impact may fall short of promises
ITALIAN Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Rome on Friday to promote a sweeping €5.5bn Africa investment strategy aimed at tackling irregular migration and reshaping Italy’s energy partnerships.
The plan targets 14 African countries—among them Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and Senegal—and seeks to channel billions into sectors including energy, healthcare, infrastructure, and agriculture. It is being rolled out under Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, which has made curbing migration a top priority.
Rome seeks to stem irregular migration
According to the EU border agency Frontex, irregular border crossings into the bloc dropped to 239,000 in 2024—a 38 percent decrease from a 10-year peak in 2023. Despite the fall, Italy remains a hotspot, particularly along the Central Mediterranean route, which saw 67,000 arrivals last year—down 59 percent.
Meloni’s strategy aims to address the underlying causes of migration by boosting job creation and trade in partner countries. ‘Our goal is a new partnership with Africa—one that benefits both sides,’ she said earlier this year.
Energy security and infrastructure drive
The initiative is also part of Italy’s broader effort to reduce energy dependence on Russia following the Ukraine war. Key projects include a €65m biofuel investment in Kenya and plans to co-finance a railway line connecting Zambia and Angola.
Major Italian firms such as energy giant Eni, power grid operator Terna, and agro-industrial company Bonifiche Ferraresi are already engaged in the initiative.
Rome sees African markets as strategic partners for diversifying energy supplies and expanding economic influence beyond Europe.
Praise from Africa—tempered with warnings
Kenyan President William Ruto called Italy’s approach ‘ambitious’ but urged more than just capital flows. ‘Investment alone is not enough,’ he said, citing structural debt burdens across African economies.
African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf echoed concerns, warning that the continent ‘cannot rely solely on promises that are often broken’.
While the plan has been welcomed by some leaders as a sign of renewed engagement, there is widespread caution over whether the funding will lead to lasting economic transformation.
Critics question scale and motives
Some experts have raised doubts about the scope and intent of the €5.5bn package. Giovanni Carbone, head of the Africa programme at the University of Milan, told AFP that the funding was ‘not at the right scale’ to significantly influence migration flows.
Environmental advocacy group ReCommon also criticised the initiative, saying it primarily benefits Italy’s fossil fuel interests. ‘This is more about Italian corporate gains than meaningful change for Africa,’ said Simone Ogno, a spokesperson for the NGO.
Brussels backing but results awaited
Von der Leyen’s presence at the summit signals European Commission support for Italy’s initiative, though EU officials are expected to seek guarantees around transparency, local partnerships, and human rights safeguards.
As the EU navigates complex migration and energy challenges, Meloni’s Africa-focused pivot could redefine Italy’s foreign policy. But whether it leads to real change on the ground—or merely serves domestic political optics—remains to be seen.
