Full Breakdown
Russia-Africa Media Forum Opens in Moscow Ahead of Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Forum Overview and Schedule
The four-day “Russia–Africa” media forum, organized by RT together with the Sputnik and TASS news agencies, began on Monday, October 26, 2026, and runs through October 29, 2026. Sessions for African television leaders and influential bloggers are slated for October 26-27, a plenary discussion on October 28, and a final RT-hosted session featuring descendants of historic African figures on October 29. The forum runs concurrently with the third Russia-Africa Summit, which will be co-chaired by President Vladimir Putin and African Union chair Evariste Ndayishimiye on October 29.
Participants and Leadership
More than 200 media professionals from 46 African nations are attending, including Gregoire Ndjaka, Director-General of the African Broadcasting Union, and Evariste Ngamana, Minister of Communications and Media of the Central African Republic. Russian representatives comprise RT First Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elizaveta Brodskaya, Rossiya Segodnya Director-General Dmitry Kiselev, and TASS Director-General Andrey Kondrashov. The forum also welcomes descendants of iconic leaders—Juliana Lumumba, Ndileka Mandela, and the grandson of Gamal Abdel Nasser—who will take part in the closing session.
Agenda and Cooperation Focus
According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the program will address media cooperation, combatting disinformation, and the role of journalism in shaping Africa’s international image. Zakharova added that the Russian side will host sessions on digital opportunities, challenges, and the application of artificial intelligence in Russia-Africa media collaboration. Sebastian Maganga, head of content at Tanzania’s Clouds Media Group, emphasized that such gatherings enable media outlets to exchange stories and reach broader audiences.
Scale and Historical Context
The forum follows two earlier Russia-Africa summits—Sochi 2019, which saw delegations from all 54 African countries, and St. Petersburg 2023, which included representatives from 48 nations. In addition to the media event, the accompanying Economic and Humanitarian Forum expects over 2,000 guests, covering trade, energy, food security, digitalisation, education, and technology.
Anticipated Impact on Russia-Africa Relations
Organizers present the forum as a platform to strengthen media ties, promote joint broadcasts, and sign cooperation agreements between Russian and African outlets. By fostering collaborative narratives and addressing misinformation, the event aims to enhance Russia’s media presence across the continent while offering African journalists expanded distribution channels.