The Prime Minister (PM) of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, participated in the 2nd Italy-Africa Summit on February 13, 2026, and addressed the 39th African Union General Assembly the following day as guest of honour. Italy’s evolving Africa strategy involves advancing the ‘Mattei Plan’, which was launched during the 1st Italy-Africa Summit held earlier in 2024. The Mattei Plan has six pillars: education, health, agriculture, water, energy, and infrastructure, and seeks to establish a relationship of “equal partnership” with African nations.
The 2nd Italy-Africa Summit
The 2nd Italy-Africa Summit was co-hosted by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed. It was held at the Addis Ababa Convention Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Prime Minister Meloni highlighted the historic significance of hosting the summit in Africa, emphasising cooperation “between equals”. She presided over the summit and, in her opening speech, stated:
“The goal of this Summit, however, is not to celebrate what we have done so far, but rather to discuss together what we can do to make the Mattei Plan more effective, more concrete, and more in line with the needs of the regions involved.”
The 2026 summit witnessed a high level of international engagement, convening African Heads of State and Government alongside UN Secretary-General António Guterres, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, João Lourenço (President of Angola and Chairperson of the AU), and representatives of major international institutions.
A key outcome was the review of progress made over the last two years, which includes the initiation or consolidation of approximately one hundred projects in strategic sectors and the establishment of synergies with the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Development Bank. Significant financial measures were also announced, specifically a wide-ranging debt conversion initiative for joint development projects and the inclusion of debt suspension clauses for nations impacted by extreme weather events. The summit also solidified commitments to key cooperation pillars such as energy, water, agriculture, health, and infrastructure, with specific goals set for 2026.
PM Meloni addresses 39th African Union General Assembly
The 39th General Assembly of the African Union took place on 14-15 February 2026. PM Giorgia Meloni attended the assembly as guest of honour and addressed it during the opening ceremony of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. PM Meloni suggested a fundamental restructuring of the relationship between Italy and Africa, grounded in what she described as a non-predatory partnership among equals.
Central to this vision is Italy’s “Mattei Plan”, which PM Meloni presented as a complementary contribution to the African Union’s own Agenda 2063. Among its flagship initiatives is the Lobito Corridor, which connects Africa to Europe. Financial reform and debt relief constituted another pillar of her address.
On migration, PM Meloni reframed the debate around what she termed the “right not to emigrate”. She emphasised the need to create conditions that allow citizens to build dignified lives within their own countries by strengthening human capital.
Throughout her speech, Meloni underscored Africa’s centrality to global development, rejecting narratives that marginalise the continent. She positioned Italy as a “privileged bridge” between Europe and Africa. She concluded by citing Pliny the Elder—”Something new always arises from Africa”—and expressed hope that the emerging “new” would be a transformative alliance.
