African Union freezes Giorgia Meloni: “Matteei did not consult us about the Plan”

There were moments of great embarrassment in the Senate during the work of the Italy-Africa summit. African Union Commission President Moussa Faki is not a very successful impersonator of the two Russian comedians who cheated on Giorgia Meloni last November.

“Mr. Prime Minister,” said Faki, “we had hoped to be consulted on the Mattei Plan you proposed. But Africa is ready to discuss the outlines and methods of implementing the Plan. I insist here on the need to act on words. Looking at the facts, you will understand very well that we can no longer be satisfied with simple promises that are often not kept.” The African leader’s words visibly surprised the prime minister. “Africa – the President of the African Union explained further – does not want to reach out to us, we are not beggars, our ambition is higher. We advocate a paradigm shift for a new model of partnership that can pave the way to a more just world If we achieve peace and prosperity not through security barriers that are obstacles to hostility “If we want to build, through friendship, this is the only way to a mutually respected and beneficial partnership, and we hope that Italy will increasingly engage with us in this perspective.”

Attack from the Democratic Party: “Piano Mattei’s tombstone”

“The head of the African Union called on the government to act concretely and put an effective tombstone on the much publicized so-called Mattei Plan.” Lia Quartapelle, a member of the Democratic Party and vice chair of the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs committee. President Faki also criticized the Italian government for not consulting with African countries and said he hoped for a new, non-security-related approach to managing migration flows. “Restarting relations between Italy and Africa is a huge task, if Meloni wants to be serious he won’t get away with a few slogans.”