Africa-Press. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy and its African partners have recently focused their talks on the burden of the continent’s debt, with Rome offering countries the option to suspend debt repayments when they are hit by severe climate events.
Speaking at the close of the second Italy–Africa meeting in Addis Ababa, Meloni said: “Today, once again, we focused on a key issue for Africa: debt.”
She added: “We launched a wide-ranging initiative to convert debt into joint development projects. In addition, we are introducing clauses to suspend debt servicing for countries affected by extreme climate events.” She did not disclose details on how the proposed suspension would work or which countries might adopt it.
Meloni also attended the plenary session of the 39th ordinary meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa. Italy has made cooperation with African countries a cornerstone of its foreign policy, notably through the “Mattei Plan,” which Rome says aims to build long-term partnerships in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
