Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi kick off a three-country tour in West Africa on Tuesday, targeting deeper cooperation on security, migration and economic ties.
Decoding the news. The visit to Mauritania, Senegal and Niger aligns with the Meloni government’s Mattei Plan, which is set to broaden its focus in 2025 to include five additional African partners, among them Mauritania and Senegal.
- Rome is seeking to strengthen political and business relations in a region considered crucial for combating irregular migration and instability.
- Mauritania stop: Meetings with Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Diay and key foreign and interior officials.
- Inauguration of Italy’s newly opened embassy in Nouakchott, a move intended to relaunch bilateral ties with a priority partner for Italian development cooperation.
- Senegal focus: Talks with President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye and senior ministers on regional integration and internal security.
- Participation in a gathering of Italian ambassadors and security experts based in Africa.
- Launch of the Italy-Senegal Business Forum, organised with ICE and leading Italian financial and industrial partners.
Why it matters: Senegal is a strategic economic counterpart for Italy.
- Rome counts Dakar as its fourth-largest Sub-Saharan export market, second in West Africa. Bilateral trade in the first seven months of 2025 has already surpassed full-year 2024 levels.
- On the sidelines of the forum, CDP, SIMEST and Senegal’s investment agency APIX will sign an MoU to support joint investment in sectors like agro-industry, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
What’s next: The final stop is Niger, where Tajani and Piantedosi will meet President Abdourahamane Tiani and senior officials, along with Italian troops deployed under MISIN.
- The goal is to revive engagement around shared priorities, namely countering terrorism, human trafficking and uncontrolled migration flows.
The big picture: Rome is doubling down on a political and economic foothold in West Africa, positioning itself as a central partner in regional security and development as the Mattei Plan scales up.
