Africa is not enthusiastic about the idea: Giorgia Meloni (47) wants to get rid of European refugees

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The former post-fascist is under great pressure in his own country. She promised to solve the migration problem. Since she took office in September 2022, the number of refugees crossing the Mediterranean has doubled to more than 153,000. But naval blockades and remigration, the usual jargon of the European ultra-right, are no longer part of Giorgia Meloni’s vocabulary (47).

She still wants to fulfill her election promise and get rid of huge numbers of refugees. But as diplomatically as possible. That is why the head of the Fratelli d’Italia relies on Africa – and on joining forces with the EU, which also wants to solve its refugee problem. Meloni’s calculation: Financing programs worth billions must keep youth in their African homelands, and economic alliances and political partnerships must make extensive deportations to these third countries palatable.

Italy wants to build bridges between the continents

Meloni calls her plan the Mattei Plan, named after a famous president of the Italian energy giant Eni. It promotes pilot projects in the fields of energy, health, nutrition and education and throws in 5.5 billion euros. Giorgia Meloni doesn’t want to make a mess. She wants to block.

The Italian Prime Minister confidently invited people to the “Italy Africa Conference” in Rome on Monday, January 29, 2024. A summit at eye level, as Meloni emphasizes. She received forty African heads of state and ministers, representatives of the EU, the UN, the African Union and representatives from the financial and business worlds – not only as head of government in Italy. In January, the Roman took over the chairmanship of the G7 group. They will meet at the summit in June in Apulia. The G7 president promises that Africa will then take a ‘place of honour’ there.

High-profile guests such as President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (65), President of the EU Parliament Roberta Metsola (45) and President of the EU Council Charles Michel (48) should add further weight to the event.

Africans not very impressed with Meloni’s big plan

But the attitude of Africans is sobering. Meloni’s deal is not taken lightly, but rather viewed with suspicion. Moussa Faki Mahamat (63) immediately complained at the lectern that they had not been consulted in advance about the Mattei plan. The chairman of the African Union Commission warns: “Africa is ready for discussion, but words must be followed by actions.”

Key countries in the Sahel region, where the main refugee routes are located, have canceled. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger were conspicuous by their absence. Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, has also not sent a representative. Even though Europe is present, it is not the center of the world for countries such as Ethiopia, Libya, Algeria and Egypt. The same applies to them as to many other African states: China, Russia, Turkey and the Emirates are now setting the tone.

Loss of connection with Africa due to missed opportunities

‘La Repubblica’ writes about many missed opportunities and cites the example of Nigeria. After the coup in neighboring Niger, Italy could have offered support. The Nigerians are now receiving help from Moscow, Turkey and the Emirates.

China has paved the continent with billions in investments for the Silk Road and also demands political obedience. Russia supplies conflict areas with mercenaries, helicopters and black money. Over the past twenty years, Turkey has increased its trade volume twentyfold to 61 billion euros. Erdogan opened 31 embassies in Africa, Turkish Airlines flies over 61 African cities, writes ‘La Repubblica’. During the Libyan conflict, the Emirates discreetly delivered drones to General Khalifa Haftar (80), who is in cahoots with the Wagner Group. The Arabs also became militarily involved in Chad, Somaliland, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Giorgia Meloni won’t be happy with what these African investors have in common. They share no sympathy with Europe and are not really interested in the Italian refugee solution.

Source: Blick