Italy’s Parliamentary Intelligence Committee (COPASIR) has flagged Africa as a key front in the country’s national security strategy. The 2024 report outlines how the continent is becoming a convergence point for terrorism, foreign interference, and critical resource competition.
Decoding the news. Rome’s security interests increasingly depend on what happens in Africa—not only for energy and migration but also for broader geopolitical balance. Intelligence efforts are being reshaped accordingly.
Key drivers of instability:
- Transnational terrorism remains a high-priority concern, with groups operating across the Sahel and North Africa.
- Irregular migration is viewed not just as a humanitarian issue but a hybrid threat, often linked to criminal networks and foreign actors.
- Russia and China are expanding their foreign influence through military, economic, and infrastructure investments.
- Resource security is at stake, especially for critical raw materials and rare earths essential to Europe’s green and digital transitions.
Italy’s response: Security meets diplomacy. Italy’s flagship strategy for Africa–aka Mattei Plan–is being treated as both a development initiative and a national security asset.
- Intelligence services have been briefed on projects like the SoutH2 Corridor and ELMED power link with Tunisia.
- Coordination across ministries has intensified, with COPASIR conducting high-level hearings with ambassadors, CEOs, and defence officials.
What we’re watching. Africa is no longer on the periphery of Italian intelligence’s radar. As COPASIR’s report underlines, the continent is now intersects with key national interests, from migration control to energy diversification and geopolitical resilience.
- Intelligence assessments suggest this trend will intensify in 2025, especially amid growing great-power competition and emerging tech like AI.
- Today, Eni confirmed a major oil discovery offshore Namibia—a reminder that Italy’s strategic footprint in Africa spans not only diplomacy and security, but also critical energy interests.
