Italian Ambassador in Paris Teresa Castaldo was summoned after Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio (pictured) accused France of creating poverty in Africa by exploiting it, and aggravating mass migration to Europe.

“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 said, in line with the the 5-Star Movement political vision.

“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.”

France has been manipulating the economies of 14 African countries that use the CFA franc — a colonial-era currency which is underpinned by the French Treasury, Di Maio continued his criticism.

“France is one of those countries that by printing money for 14 African states prevents their economic development and contributes to the fact that the refugees leave and then die in the sea or arrive on our coasts,” he concluded.

The critical remarks of the Italian politician did not pass unnoticed by French diplomacy, the third biggest network in the world after the USA and China.

Ambassador Teresa Castaldo was summoned on January 21 by the chief of staff of European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau, according to French diplomatic sources.