Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed concluded a working visit to Italy this week, following his trip to France, with a focus on strengthening bilateral and economic relations. In Rome, Prime Minister Abiy held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi, where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across key sectors.
The meeting emphasized shared priorities in economic collaboration, although detailed agreements were not made public. Italian government sources indicated potential areas of cooperation under Italy’s “Mattei Plan for Africa,” including support for water infrastructure, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture initiatives in Ethiopia.
“The two sides reaffirmed a mutual desire to expand their partnership guided by long-standing ties and respect,” Prime Minister Abiy wrote on social media after the meeting.
The Italian government also expressed appreciation for Ethiopia’s economic reform agenda. “These efforts are enabling continued growth and attracting further Italian investment,” said a statement from Italy’s Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni is expected to visit Addis Ababa in late July to co-chair the upcoming United Nations Food Security Summit, scheduled to be held in the Ethiopian capital on July 28.
During his visit to Rome, Prime Minister Abiy also had an audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. While the Vatican provided few details, a brief statement confirmed the meeting, noting that the Ethiopian leader presented the Pope with Ethiopian coffee as a symbolic gesture.
Abiy’s international engagements come at a time when his administration continues to face criticism over internal conflicts in Ethiopia’s Amhara and Oromia regions. While these issues were not addressed publicly during his European visits, Prime Minister Abiy stated that he and Pope Leo XIV discussed a “shared commitment to global peace.”
The Prime Minister’s tour signals ongoing efforts by the Ethiopian government to reinforce diplomatic and economic partnerships across Europe amid both domestic and global challenges.