Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose Africa development plan has drawn criticism, has elevated the continent as a central theme and top priority at this year’s Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ meeting, positioning Italy as a key energy hub linking Europe with Africa. The project symbolizes her vision to project influence in Africa, transforming Italy into a key bridge for distributing gas from Africa and the Mediterranean to the rest of Europe, while also fostering economic growth to stem mass migration from the African continent. Emboldened by her victory in the recent European Parliament elections, at the G7 summit, Meloni is seeking partnerships, funding, and legitimacy for her vision. “Meloni wants to present Italy as the new European face in Africa,” Maddalena Procopio, a senior policy fellow from European Council on Foreign Relations, says. “Emphasizing the continent at the G7 is a strategic move because of the unprecedented global interest.”

Source: The North Africa Journal June 14, 2024 11:41 UTC