Georgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister
By Jeff Harris
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for an end to Africa’s exploitation by foreign powers.
Meloni emphasized that Africans did not need to migrate to Europe or the U.S. to succeed if their continent was free from external control.
She has been particularly critical of the CFA franc, a currency used by several West and Central African countries and managed by France.
The Prime Minister called it a form of colonial dominance that hampers true economic independence.
In Jan. 2024, Meloni launched the “Mattei Plan,” a 5.5 billion Euro initiative aimed at promoting energy, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development in Africa.
She argued that fostering growth at home would reduce irregular migration.
She insisted that Africa was not poor but rather rich in resources and potential, needing partnership not charity from Europe.
While some African leaders welcomed the plan, they also urged for genuine, respectful cooperation.
Critics, however, questioned whether the initiative primarily serves Italy’s strategic interests, particularly in energy and migration control.
They expressed concern over continued ties with authoritarian regimes, warning against new forms of neocolonialism under the guise of development.
