📌Sputnik Africa opens new editorial hubs in South Africa and Tanzania On 20 October, Russian Ambassador to South Africa and Lesotho Roman Ambarov took part in the opening ceremony of two new Sputnik Africa editorial centres in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The opening comes ahead of the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow on 28-29 October. Media cooperation will also feature prominently at the Russia-Africa Media Forum. 🇷🇺🇿🇦 The ceremony brought together messages of congratulations from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who highlighted the importance of the initiative for strengthening media cooperation and mutual understanding between Russia and Africa. 💬 Sergey Lavrov: “The opening of regional offices in Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg will expand African audiences’ access to objective, verified information, free from distortion and ideological filters. It will create more opportunities for exchanges with African journalists and new joint projects, complementing the Agency’s existing educational programmes. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the centres will use advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to disseminate information in five languages, including Amharic, Oromo and Swahili. The Russian Foreign Ministry will continue to provide comprehensive support to Russian media operating in Africa. We trust that your work will continue to contribute to a healthier global information environment and strengthen Russian-African friendship.” 💬 Deputy President Paul Mashatile welcomed Sputnik’s commitment to amplifying African voices and bringing African stories to a wider audience, noting the importance of diverse perspectives in public discourse: “We welcome Sputnik’s commitment to amplifying African voices and bringing African stories to a wider audience. The opening of Sputnik’s regional office in Johannesburg marks an important development for the media landscape of South Africa and the African continent. It reflects the growing cooperation between Russia and South Africa while contributing to the diversity of voices and perspectives that are essential to vibrant public discourse. In today’s rapidly evolving global information environment, access to a plurality of views remains vital”. Ambassador Roman Ambarov emphasised that the new centres represent more than an expansion of Sputnik’s presence on the continent. They reflect a shared commitment to strengthening information ties and enabling Russians and Africans to learn more about each other. He also expressed confidence that the Johannesburg bureau would contribute to a richer and broader picture of Russia in the South African media landscape, while helping Russian audiences gain a deeper appreciation of South Africa’s history, culture and diversity. 🤝 Ambassador Ambarov congratulated the entire Rossiya Segodnya and Sputnik Africa teams on this important milestone, wishing them continued professional success and, above all, the trust of their audiences. 📌 The new editorial centres in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, produce content in English and Swahili, including podcasts broadcast by radio stations across the continent, reaching a combined audience of more than 100 million listeners. #RussiaSouthAfrica #RussiaWithAfrica #AmbassadorAmbarov