France summons Italian envoy over Di Maio’s African remarks

France has summoned Italy's ambassador after the Italian deputy prime minister accused the French of exploiting Africa and fuelling migration.

On Sunday, Luigi di Maio called on the European Union to impose sanctions on France for its policies in Africa.

He said France had "never stopped colonizing tens of African states".

Speaking in central Italy, Di Maio attacked France’s Africa policy — the latest chapter in a war of words between Rome and Paris since the anti-establishment 5-Star-Movement and far-right League won power last year.

“If we have people who are leaving Africa now it’s because some European countries, and France in particular, have never stopped colonizing Africa,” said Di Maio, who leads the 5-Star.

“If France didn’t have its African colonies, because that’s what they should be called, it would be the 15th largest world economy. Instead, it’s among the first, exactly because of what it is doing in Africa.”

Italy's populist leadership has repeatedly clashed with France in recent months, on issues such as migration, protests, and culture.

"The EU should impose sanctions on France and all countries like France that impoverish Africa and make these people leave, because Africans should be in Africa, not at the bottom of the Mediterranean," Di Maio said.

"If people are leaving today it's because European countries, France above all, have never stopped colonizing dozens of African countries."

The Italian ambassador to France, Teresa Castaldo, was summoned to the foreign ministry in Paris on Monday.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says 4,216 migrants have crossed to Europe by the sea in the first 16 days of 2019 - more than double the number arriving in the same period last year.

Italy's other Deputy PM, Matteo Salvini, wrote on Facebook after the latest deaths in the Mediterranean that "as long as European ports remain open... unfortunately the smugglers will continue to do business and kill".