(ANSA) – ROME, OCT 13 – Africa must be supported through a
non-paternalistic approach involving cooperation, not charity,
Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Friday.

   
“I think it can be seen that this Italian government is
particularly attentive to the role that African countries and
the African continent play in the current context,” said Meloni
during her meeting with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi.

   
“And I think it can been seen that our idea is for Europe to
take a new approach to Africa that is not predatory and
paternalistic, that is not based on the idea that Africa should
be helped with charity but rather supported with its own
riches,” she added.

   
Africa, said Meloni, can develop and enjoy wellbeing thanks to
those riches, “with the help of nations that invest and build
long-term relationships”.

   
“This is exactly what is happening here in Mozambique,
particularly in energy-related projects, but it can also happen
in many other areas such as agriculture and infrastructure,”
continued the premier.

   
“There are still many areas that we can experiment with in our
cooperation, also in consideration of the strategic project that
we will present at the Italy-Africa Conference that we have had
to postpone,” she said.

   
On Thursday the Italian foreign ministry announced it had
decided to postpone a major Italy-Africa conference scheduled
for next month to early next year in light of the worsening
international security environment.

   
It said the postponement will also allow for better coordination
with other events on the international agenda and in particular
the meetings of the African Union and the Italian G7 Presidency,
during which Africa will play a central role.

   
Italy is seeking to deepen ties with African countries as part
of a new energy strategy and to tackle irregular migration by
sea, which has increased by around 86% this year. (ANSA).