Italy-Libya Business Forum 2024: Profit over People?

By Valentina

Take me to Libya. After a decade-long hiatus, the Italy-Libya Business Forum returned to Tripoli on October 29th, marking Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s fourth trip to Libya since taking office in 2022. In her opening remarks, Meloni underscored the importance of Italian-Libyan relations, deftly positioning herself as the architect of a new era in Mediterranean cooperation. She referenced the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum from July, affirming Italy’s commitment to addressing “illegal mass migration,” encouraging “local economic development,” and creating “legal migration channels.” However, while migration looms large in the rhetoric, the reality paints a starker picture: there was no mention of improving conditions for migrants stranded in Libya, hinting at Italy's primary focus on border control over humanitarian concerns.



Business was the star of the show. Meloni touted the booming trade figures between the two countries, which have surged from €2.6 billion in 2020 to €9.1 billion in 2024. In line with the infamous Mattei Plan – Italy’s ‘non-predatory’ framework for Africa – the PM emphasised that bilateral cooperation would focus on energy, telecommunications, and cybersecurity, while proudly announcing the restoration of direct ITA Airways flights between the two countries. Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah expressed optimism, calling the agreements a “new opportunity” for Libya’s national economy. Yet, for many Libyans, the benefits of such trade deals remain distant, and critics argue that these investments serve Italian interests far more than local development.



Italy taking matters into its own hands. The Forum also hinted at a strategic shift away from EU-mediated policies, as Italy and Libya bypassed the EU to pursue a bilateral approach to trade and migration. Italy’s move toward intergovernmentalism, in favour of state-centred negotiations over collective European frameworks, raises questions about the long-term human and economic impacts on both sides of the Mediterranean. Without tangible commitments to improve socio-economic conditions for the people most affected by these agreements – namely, young people and migrants – the Forum risks reinforcing a partnership that prioritises profit over people.





Sudan's War: Power, Ego, and Civilian Suffering
By Laura

It’s getting out of hand. Al-Jazira state has become one of the latest hotspots of conflict in Sudan, following serious attacks on villages by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the last week of October. According to the Health Ministry, at least 120 people were killed. Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a violent armed conflict fuelled by a power struggle opposing the country's strongmen: General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, head of the armed forces and de facto leader of the country, and his deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (aka Hemeti), leader of the RSF. Although Burhan and Hemeti were allies in 2019 and worked together in the coup that overthrew dictator Omar al-Bashir, their relationship has deteriorated over time, mainly due to disagreements over the integration of Hemeti's RSF into the regular Sudanese army.



Civilians always pay the price. Egos aside, the dire situation in Sudan persists as the two generals continue their rivalry, causing immense suffering for the Sudanese people. Although overshadowed by Ukraine and Gaza in global headlines, the war in Sudan has sparked one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 11 million people. On 17 October, the United Nations denounced the warring parties’ use of “starvation tactics.” Experts wrote, “never in modern history have so many people faced starvation and famine as in Sudan today”; a claim that says it all.



Sexual violence: the cherry on top. If starvation and killings were not enough, on October 29, a UN fact-finding mission issued a warning that the RSF and its allies have been responsible for “staggering” levels of sexual violence, including the rape of civilians and the abduction of women to be used as sex slaves. Additionally, the paramilitary group and Arab militias in West Darfur have been accused of conducting ethnic massacres targeting the non-Arab Masalit community. While a smaller number of sexual violence cases involving the Sudanese army have also been reported, further investigation is needed to understand the extent of these abuses.



An end on the horizon? The conflict’s prospects remain bleak, and the international community’s efforts to mediate and call for a ceasefire have yet to produce meaningful results. Nonetheless, Burhan affirmed on Monday at a UN conference held in Egypt that the war in his country will end soon. Taking this statement with a grain of salt, let’s wait for the better.





Macron in Morocco: Big Deals, Bold Moves, and Big Questions

By Hafssa

Two weeks ago, we previewed Macron’s upcoming Morocco visit – now, we’re unpacking the big moves and key takeaways from his trip!



During his address to the Moroccan parliament, Macron reaffirmed France's backing of Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, earning a round of enthusiastic applause. He also pledged significant French support for the disputed territory’s development through investments that will benefit the local population.



Money speaks. Over the course of Macron’s three-day state visit, France and Morocco signed a series of deals worth up to 10 billion euros, according to AFP, though specific contract details remain under wraps. The agreements span critical sectors like energy and infrastructure, underscoring a ‘win-win’ approach to collaboration. Key highlights include rail giant Alstom's deal to supply Morocco with up to 18 high-speed train carriages, TotalEnergies’ agreement to kickstart green hydrogen production, and a major renewable energy partnership between energy firm Engie and Morocco’s Phosphate Office.



Navigating the legal grey area. Macron’s visit has paved the way for a new chapter in Franco-Moroccan relations, putting aside years of tension. However, the president’s intentions to invest in the contested territory raise many questions. In a nutshell. Rabat controls the exploitation of natural resources in the Western Sahara, but international law prohibits the exploitation of such resources for its own benefit and without the consent of the Sahrawi people (regardless of Morocco's status as the de facto administering or occupying power). Just weeks ago, the European Court of Justice annulled the 2019 EU-Morocco fishing and agriculture deals, citing the lack of Saharawi consent. If France moves forward with investments in the Western Sahara – likely involving resource exploitation – how will it navigate international legal concerns? Also, how is France going to ensure that French investments trickle down to the Sahrawi population? Those are the tough questions that many choose to disregard.





Much Ado About Nothing: Peace Negotiations
By Andrea

Impunity continues. The Israeli military is targeting the Lebanese territory, while UN l warns that the situation in northern Gaza is “apocalyptic”. Peace talks are currently ongoing to end these two open fronts. The Americans, Egyptians and Qataris are, once again, acting as mediators in the hope of a ceasefire plan. However, nothing can be said at the moment, here is why:



Hamas and Israel. If wants Israel to commit to a permanent and full withdrawal of troops from Gaza, Israel demands to maintain an eight-mile stretch near Egypt. Yes, Israel’s audacity has no limits. Facing those irreconcilable demands, one thing clear: Prime MinisterNetanhayu, who surprisingly fired the Defence Minister, hopes that the US elections will delay the negotiations and that the aftermath could provide him with more support from the Western ally. Indeed, Trump will only take office by the end of January. By that time, who knows what Gaza and Lebanon would go through? Lebanon is another story. The Lebanese government is trying to bring back the 2006 ceasefire plan, but neither the Lebanese army nor the UN Peacekeepers exert control over Hezbollah. The latter maintains that it would cease the fight only when Israel withdraws from Gaza. That said, Naim Qassem – the new secretary-general – seems more open to an agreement of suitable conditions.