The second Italy-Africa Summit, held on February 13, 2026, in Addis Ababa, marked a symbolic shift as the first iteration hosted on African soil, co-chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Attended by dozens of African heads of state, the event reviewed the Mattei Plan—a €5.5 billion initiative launched in Rome in 2024—focusing on what is described as equitable partnerships in energy, infrastructure, trade, agriculture, health, digital connectivity, water management, and youth skills development.
Key outcomes included pledges for deeper cooperation, with Italy highlighting completed projects. Melon also touted the mobilization of billions in public-private resources across Africa.
Meloni stressed a “partnership of equals,” drawing on what she described as mutual responsibility, while Abiy called for action-oriented ties beyond dependency.
Critically, while the summit’s rhetoric promotes non-exploitative collaboration, it risks perpetuating uneven power dynamics. Italy’s focus on energy aligns with European interests in securing resources, potentially prioritizing Italian gains over African agency.
