Rome hosts Italy-Africa Summit, excludes Polisario

Rome is hosting the Italy-Africa summit on Monday, focusing on the development of the continent. Representatives from UN agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP) and international institutions like the IMF and World Bank are participating. Morocco is represented by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

The Polisario has been excluded from the summit. Italy resisted pressure from Algeria, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, to invite the separatists. As a result, Algeria downgraded its representation, sending Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf instead of the usual Prime Minister.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria spoke on the phone with Meloni on Saturday, reportedly discussing the summit, as per the Algerian presidency. The Polisario has remained silent on their exclusion.