Rabat– Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch took part on Friday evening in the second edition of the Italy-Africa Summit, held in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the African Union Summit.
The Italy-Africa Summit 2026 convened on February 13 as the Mattei Plan for Africa enters its implementation phase.
The plan outlines a series of infrastructure projects across the African continent, aimed at strengthening development cooperation and investment.
Launched by Italy in 2024 with an initial €5.5 billion, the plan aims to build mutually beneficial partnerships across Africa.
In addition to Morocco, the plan covers 13 countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Tunisia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Two years after its launch, the initiative has moved from pledges to concrete action, with partners assessing progress and working to ensure stronger alignment with African priorities.
The meeting brought together representatives of all 54 African countries. The summit reviewed advancements made since the first edition, organized in 2024 in Rome, which was marked by the official launch of the Mattei Plan.
Akhannouch arrived in Addis Ababa earlier on Friday to represent King Mohammed VI at the 39th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. He was welcomed upon his arrival at Bole International Airport by Ethiopia’s Minister of Peace, Mohammed Idriss, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Berhanu Tsegaye.
Also present to receive the Moroccan official was Morocco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Mohammed Arrouchi, alongside several other dignitaries.
The 39th AU Summit is being held on February 14 and 15 under the theme: “Ensuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.”
Water and its central role in preserving life, supporting socio-economic development, and enhancing resilience to climate change across the continent will be the major focus of discussions and panels.