Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced a new proposal to allow African countries to suspend debt repayments when struck by extreme climate events, as part of broader efforts to ease the continent’s debt burden.
Speaking late Friday at the close of the second Italy–Africa meeting in Addis Ababa, Meloni said debt relief had been central to discussions between Italy and its African partners.
“Today, once again, we focused on an issue that is central for Africa, which is debt,” she said.
Meloni revealed that Italy had launched what she described as a broad initiative on debt conversion tied to joint development projects. In addition, she said Rome would introduce debt-suspension clauses for countries affected by extreme climate shocks.
“We have launched a broad initiative on debt conversion for joint development projects. To this, we are adding the introduction of debt-suspension clauses for those nations affected by extreme climate events,” she said.
The Italian leader did not provide specific details on how the proposed suspension mechanism would operate, including eligibility criteria, duration of repayment pauses or which African states might benefit from the arrangement.
Debt sustainability has remained a pressing concern for many African nations, several of which are grappling with high borrowing costs, currency pressures and the fiscal strain of climate-related disasters such as floods and prolonged droughts.
Meloni is expected to attend the plenary session of the 39th Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on Saturday, also in Addis Ababa, where development financing and climate resilience are likely to feature prominently on the agenda.
Italy has in recent years elevated cooperation with African countries as a central pillar of its foreign policy. A key element of that approach is the so-called “Mattei Plan,” which Rome says is designed to promote long-term partnerships in energy, agriculture and infrastructure rather than short-term aid.
The climate-linked debt suspension proposal is expected to form part of that broader engagement framework, though analysts say its impact will depend on implementation details and coordination with international lenders.
If adopted and replicated more widely, such mechanisms could provide temporary fiscal breathing space for countries hit by climate emergencies, helping them redirect resources toward recovery and reconstruction efforts.
