Since May 2018, Italy has established a Permanent Representation to the African Union Commission, administratively embedded within the Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa, with the appointment of an Ambassador accredited to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
The decision, which is part of Italy’s traditional commitment to multilateralism, represents the strength of Italy’s commitment to the African continent and its regional organizations, which has found further focus with the Mattei Plan, launched at the Italy-Africa Summit in January 2024, it is an initiative of a program-strategic nature aimed at promoting the continent’s development, in synergy with the European Union’s Global Gateway on the basis of equal partnerships with African Union member states, for the implementation of shared development initiatives and projects.
Cooperation with the African Union has been developed since 2007 through a special fund of 40 million euros, the Italian-African Peace Facility (IAPF), which over the years has financed various initiatives aimed at supporting and strengthening peace, security and governance in African countries. The latest resources from the Facility have been used for a multi-phased, ongoing project to strengthen the continent’s electoral systems (Pro-Electoral Integrity | ECES | European Centre for Electoral Support).
Funds from the so-called “decreto missioni” are also used to finance several projects each year, again aimed at strengthening peace and security in the continent and promoting its economic development. Among the most important initiatives are the training and capacity-building activities for officials of the African Union Commission and its member states organized by the Carabinieri Corps, as well as development projects based on funding granted to international partner bodies of the African Union, in particular UNECA, in various development sectors (fight against irregular migration; development of energy systems in Africa; support to the private sector for implementation of the continental free trade area).
Visits by Italian personalities to African Union Commission
- October 12, 2018: meeting of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte with AU Commission Vice Chair Kwesi Quartey, Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui, and Commissioner for Social Affairs Amira Elfadil;
- December 7, 2018: meetings of Deputy Foreign Minister, Hon. Emanuela Claudia Del Re, with AU Commission Vice Chair Kwesi Quartey and Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Sarah Anyang Agbor. Subsequently, VM Del Re also met with UNECA Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, and the Director of the World Bank Office in Addis Ababa, Carolyn Turk;
- April 10, 2019: meeting of Minister of Defense, Elisabetta Trenta, with Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui;
- April 14, 2023: meeting of Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, with AU Commission Chair, Moussa Faki.
Visits of AU personalities to Italy
- 24-25, 2018: opening remarks of the Second Italy-Africa Conference (Rome, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) by AU Commission Vice Chair Kwesi Quartey;
- July 10-12, 2019: visit to Milan by the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Amani Abou-Zeid, who had meetings with the Fondazione Enrico Mattei and Mrs. Letizia Moratti, former Mayor of Milan.
- January 29, 2024: visit to Italy by the President of the African Union Commission for the Italy-Africa Summit;
- July 9-11, 2024: participation of the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mohamed Belhocine in the Bologna G7 Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology;
- September 19-21, 2024: participation of the Commissioner for Social Development, Minata Samaté Cessouma, in the Naples G7 Ministerial Meeting on Culture;
- September 26-28, 2024: participation of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Josefa Sacko, at the G7 ministerial meeting in Syracuse on agriculture;
- June 20, 2025: participation of the President of the Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, at the Summit ‘The Mattei Plan for Africa and the Global Gateway: A common effort with the African Continent,’ co-chaired by Council President Giorgia Meloni and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.