Italy-Africa Summit: Italy Seeks a Piece of Africa with the "Mattei Plan"

As long as African countries fail to unite and formulate their own plans for the future, global powers will continue to devise so-called plans "for Africa" without consulting Africans.

Italy has now joined the caravan of nations hosting Africa summits, holding its first such gathering on January 29th, where it unveiled its strategy for the continent.

At the summit, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that in exchange for access to energy resources and cooperation from African governments in curbing migration to Europe, Italy would fund energy, education, and health projects in North African countries, as well as in Mozambique, Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, and Kenya.

The famous Zambian freedom fighter Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe perfectly summarized the approach of global powers to Africa today when he said, "Colonialism is like a chameleon, it never goes away, it only changes colour. If we do not manage our independence to the fullest, the colonisers will return under the name of investors."

Europe's Quest for Energy

Europe's energy resources are dwindling. In a panic, European countries are now intensely focusing on Africa, seeking to access new sources through strategic maneuvers. The future of Africa, which is immensely rich in mineral resources, will shape the future of the entire world.

Most European countries have a very dark history on the continent. Therefore, plans must be meticulously crafted, caution must be exercised, rhetoric must change, and apologies must be made for past wrongs.

The far-right Italian Prime Minister, signaling a shift in tone amid Europe's dwindling energy supplies, even went so far as to declare that Europe's "paternalistic" approach to Africa has failed. She promised that Italy would henceforth pursue an "equal" cooperation, free from the "predatory impositions" of the past.

A large portion of the €5.5 billion Italy has pledged to Africa comes from the climate crisis fund discussed at COP28—a debt that was already owed. The remaining €2.8 million will fund various projects.

While presenting this relatively small fund as its entry ticket to Africa, Meloni demanded a halt to the irregular boat crossings in some parts of the Mediterranean, which have increased by 50% compared to last year.

Although not explicitly stated in the public part of the conference, the Mattei Plan—named after the founder of Italy's giant energy company, Eni—seeks new energy partnerships based on fossil fuels.

According to The Guardian's Jamie Mackay, a look at the details of the Mattei Plan suggests that Italy also aims to increase its influence over Europe's foreign policy.

African Countries Are Wary and Critical

The crimes Italy has committed in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia (Somaliland) are still fresh in the memory of African societies. The difficult working conditions and low wages afforded to African migrants in Italy are also well-known. Consequently, Africa is approaching this plan, which was prepared without considering African interests or consulting African leaders, with caution.

African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki told Italian PM Meloni, "I wish we had been consulted during the preparation of the plan." He expressed Africa's stance towards European countries, with Italy as a specific case, by stating, "We are not beggars; we want a paradigm shift for a new partnership model that can pave the way for a fairer and more consistent world."

It is no surprise that Italy is striving to secure its share in Africa, which has become a competitive arena for all global powers. However, bypassing the need to provide electricity to 600 million people in Africa without access, and instead seeking ways to export electricity solely for Europe's own energy security, is far from equality and cooperation.

While Italy tries to prevent migration to Europe, it offers no solutions to the root causes that drive migration.

According to Denison University professor Fadhel Kaboub, this plan is a textbook neocolonial project:
"If the Italy-Africa partnership does not respect Africa's needs, then it is nothing more than an obvious colonial project that should be exposed and rejected by African leaders, rather than celebrated. Far from being good for the continent, this plan will be another part of a broader project to ensure Africa continues to play the same role imposed during the colonial era: a source of cheap raw materials, a consumer market for European industrial output, and a dumping ground for outdated technologies and assembly-line production."

African countries now want to engage with global powers within a framework of respect and a spirit of cooperation, breaking the cycle of exploitation and inequality. African leaders and experts are making it clear that the hastily prepared Mattei Plan, devised without their consultation, is far from being a good partnership plan, and that European countries must make more sincere efforts to break free from their colonial past.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/05/italy-africa-initiative-gas-giorgia-meloni-eu
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/30/africa/italy-africa-summit-2024-intl/index.html
https://eccoclimate.org/italys-mattei-plan-for-africa-no-development-without-climate/
https://africanarguments.org/2024/02/is-italy-6bn-mattei-plan-for-africa-just-pr-friendly-neocolonialism/

This article was originially published in Independent Türkçe, on February 14, 2024.