Russia And Africa Strengthen Media Cooperation For Joint Projects
Moscow, Russia – March 6, 2025
The State Duma of the Russian Federation hosted a high-level roundtable discussion, "Information Bridge: Russia – Africa," to enhance media collaboration between Russia and African countries. The event, organized by the Expert Council on the Development and Support of Comprehensive Partnership with African Countries and the African-Russian Energy Association, gathered key figures from both regions, including diplomats, journalists, bloggers, and media professionals.
Alexander Babakov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, emphasized the need for state-led efforts to address gaps in Russian-African media relations. He noted that Russia has various institutions and resources to shape the media narrative but must approach the matter with "care and seriousness."
Maria Zakharova, Official Representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, outlined the existing media challenges, highlighting the lack of accredited African media outlets in Russia and the dominance of Western narratives in African media. She called for more press tours, educational exchanges, and media conferences to increase Russian media presence in Africa.
Dr. Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute of Africa at the Russian Academy of Sciences, urged journalists to better understand Africa to avoid misrepresentations. She proposed expanding media reach beyond African capitals to rural provinces and emphasized the need to showcase Africa beyond the stereotypes of poverty and instability.
Cameroonian journalist Clarissa Vaidorven, a member of the Globus Expert Club, called for media diplomacy to counter Western influence, which she claimed bribes local bloggers to control African narratives. She proposed joint educational programs, independent journalism, and the establishment of a Russian TV network in Africa as solutions to information blockades and language barriers.
Svyatoslav Shchegolev, head of RT's African Content Production Service, acknowledged the challenges of broadcasting Russian perspectives in Africa but noted a growing demand for direct partnerships with African media.
Meanwhile, Victoria Smorodina, Editor-in-Chief of International Reporters, criticized France’s declining influence in Africa’s media space, suggesting that instead of resisting Pan-African movements, France should support independent African media, culture, and cinema.
Andrey Gromov, Executive Secretary of the African-Russian Energy Association (AREA), stressed that a lack of media coverage has led to the failure of many business projects. He presented a resolution containing specific recommendations to bolster Russian-African media cooperation and improve information flow between the two regions.
As Russia and Africa seek deeper cooperation, media collaboration is emerging as a crucial tool for shaping narratives, increasing awareness, and strengthening economic and diplomatic ties.