Decoding the news. The Mattei Plan is emerging as Italy’s main geopolitical tool in Africa. It is not merely a response to migration, but a structural, open, and non-paternalistic model of cooperation.
- According to Mantovano, Italy is filling a void left by a West often perceived as distant or exploitative.
In his words. Speaking at the conference “Opportunities of the Mattei Plan for Africa’s Development,” Mantovano reaffirmed the foundation of the Plan:
- “It is not a top-down plan, nor is it subject to rigid conditionalities, as some international organizations tend to impose when promoting forms of what Pope Francis has called ‘ideological colonization’—to the detriment of local populations.”He described the approach as “an open and equal platform for cooperation, shaped by the priorities expressed by our African partners.”
The pillars of the Mattei Plan. Italy’s strategy rests on two pillars and a structure:
- Non-paternalistic cooperation – grounded in listening, co-design, and respect for African agency.
- Multi-level governance – A Steering Committee led by the Presidency of the Council (called “Cabina di Regia”) includes ministries, regions, universities, civil society, private and state-owned companies, and third-sector organizations.
- “The second core pillar of the Mattei Plan — one that is ensuring its success — is its governance model. The Plan moves away from a centralised, bureaucratic approach and adopts a multi-level governance structure that integrates the contributions of all major stakeholders involved.”
- Mantovano also underlined the roles of the Mission Structure, headed by diplomatic advisor Fabrizio Saggio, and the Technical Committee, which evaluates proposals.
The geopolitical backdrop. Mantovano recalled that the initial urgency behind the Plan was managing irregular migration flows. But the real foundation is strategic:
- “The decisive factor was the awareness of Africa’s centrality to the future of the planet — a centrality that has been shamefully underestimated by the West in recent years.”
Key factors: demographics, labor force, growth potential. - “By 2035, Africa will have the largest labor force in the world, surpassing China and India.”
Threats on the ground. The continent faces growing instability and entrenched jihadism.
- “In 2024, 51% of global deaths from terrorist attacks occurred in the Sahel.”
“A major miscalculation was believing that the fight against Islamic terrorism ended with the defeat of ISIS.” - Russia and China have asserted themselves—militarily and through infrastructure—accompanied by disinformation and hybrid warfare.
- “All of this has found fertile ground in the growing anti-Western sentiment, largely driven by the deep disappointment of Africans with the paternalistic and exploitative attitude that has characterised the West’s approach to them for decades.”
Results already on the ground. Mantovano cited Bonifiche Ferraresi as a prime example: the Ferrara-based agricultural firm has invested €420 million in Algeria to cultivate 36,000 hectares of arid land, with an expected impact on 600,000 people.
- In Côte d’Ivoire, €200 million guaranteed by SACE is funding agribusiness projects focused on cereals, rice, and maize.
- The TERRA program, integrated into the Mattei Plan through the European Global Gateway, brings total available resources to €1.2 billion.
What we’re watching. “The most significant takeaway is that African countries recognize the sincerity of Italy’s commitment over these two years,” Mantovano said.
- “I’m not only referring to the countries that have formally joined the Mattei Plan—which have risen from 9 to 14 in just 18 months, with more expressing interest—but also to those that have distanced themselves from the Western sphere but not from Italy.”
Next week, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to Ethiopia, one of Africa’s most complex and developed nations, and a key partner for Italy in the Horn of Africa.
