The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation hosted a roundtable titled “Information Bridge: Russia-Africa” on Thursday, March 6th 2025. The event, organised by the Expert Council on the Development and Support of Comprehensive Partnership with African Countries under State Duma’s Deputy Chairman Alexander Babakov, and the African-Russian Energy Association (AREA), brought together diverse stakeholders. Attendees included representatives from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), leading Russian and African journalists, editors, bloggers, media companies, information security specialists, and analysts from research organisations.
The roundtable was moderated by Nikolay Novichkov, a State Duma deputy and the deputy chairman of the Expert Council, alongside Julia Berg, head of the Globus Expert Club and co-author of the GlobalInsights programme on pan-African television. The discussions focused on developing concrete proposals to leverage media and the blogosphere to promote Russian-African projects, initiatives, and broader cooperation in media communications.
State influence and media challenges
Babakov, chairman of the Expert Council, opened the event by emphasising the critical role of state involvement in addressing media communication challenges between Russia and Africa.
“We will definitely, at least within the State Duma, look for mechanisms that would prioritise state influence and create conditions under which our state’s information agenda would be implemented. There are many institutions and funds for this. Today, they need to be treated very carefully and seriously,” Babakov said.
Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the MFA, highlighted the existing gaps in media relations between Russia and Africa. She noted that while the correspondent networks of Russian and African media retain growth potential, they remain underdeveloped.
“There are no accredited African media outlets in Russia. Journalists from Africa visit Russia sporadically, mainly for major events. Against the backdrop of the influence of French and English-language media and the lack of Russian content, the African audience gets a distorted view of Russia and bilateral cooperation,” Zakharova explained.
She proposed strengthening ties through educational programmes, press tours, and major media conferences, particularly targeting Africa’s young population. “The population of Africa is 1.5bn, half of whom are under the age of 20. This is the age when people want to learn, set goals, and break into the world. Modern technologies create an information environment that should not be overlooked,” she added.
Proposals for media collaboration
Irina Abramova, director of the Institute of Africa at the Russian Academy of Sciences, stressed the importance of improving journalists’ understanding of Africa to avoid misrepresentation.
“It is important for journalists to understand Africa to avoid mistakes. We are ready to give lectures and collaborate to improve literacy in covering African topics. In large countries, the media should broadcast not only in the capitals but also in the provinces, touching on education issues, since 50% of the population of Africa is under 20 years of age,” Abramova said.
She also emphasised the need to engage African bloggers and showcase the reality of Russia. “Africa is young, open to new things, and you should not imagine it only as a poor and hungry territory,” she concluded.
Clarissa Vaidorven, a Cameroonian journalist and member of the Globus Expert Club, outlined the role of media in strengthening Russian-African ties. She highlighted the influence of Western media on African narratives and called for strategic use of media platforms to promote Russia’s interests.
“Western media actively influence African narratives by bribing local bloggers. Russia should strategically use media platforms to promote its interests, forming a positive image through media diplomacy,” Vaidorven said.
She identified language barriers, information blockades, and limited access to sources as key challenges. “The solution to this problem is to create joint educational programmes, develop independent journalism, and foster partnerships between Russian and African media. The establishment of a Russian TV network in Africa and the promotion of its own agenda will help strengthen the media sphere and inform about Russia’s activities on the continent,” she concluded.
Broadcasting challenges and opportunities
Svyatoslav Shchegolev, head of RT’s African Content Production Service, addressed the difficulties of conveying the Russian perspective to African audiences.
“Today in Africa, new ways are being found to communicate information to viewers, sometimes in spite of Western pressure. There is great attention and a desire to cooperate directly with African media, including state-owned TV channels,” Shchegolev noted.
Victoria Smorodina, editor-in-chief of InternationalReporters, offered recommendations for France’s approach to Africa, suggesting a shift in strategy to counter declining influence.
“France needs to rethink its strategy of information warfare in Africa, recognising the gap with past influence. Instead of fighting pan-African demands, it should support the creation of an independent Africa by developing local media, culture, cinema, and theatre,” Smorodina said.
She argued that such efforts would help counter the influence of Turkey, the United States, and other powers. “The defeat of France in the information sphere should be an incentive for the development of a new doctrine that combines the defence of cognitive sovereignty and offensive tools. We need partnerships with private companies, a legal framework, and structures for regulating information operations,” she added.
Recommendations
The roundtable concluded with Andrey Gromov, executive secretary of the board of the African-Russian Energy Association, presenting a resolution containing specific recommendations to promote Russian-African cooperation in the information sphere.
“We know of many business projects that fell apart because there wasn’t enough coverage. We did not understand what the contribution of the Russian Federation was,” Gromov stressed.
The resolution emphasised the need for state-backed initiatives, educational programmes, and strategic media partnerships to bridge the information gap and foster a more accurate and mutually beneficial narrative between Russia and Africa.
