Hope Ntanzi|Published
Russian news agency Sputnik has opened a new editorial centre in Johannesburg, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying the office would expand African audiences’ access to what he described as objective, verified information.
The Johannesburg centre and a second office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were launched simultaneously ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow on October 28 and 29.
They will employ dozens of local journalists and produce content in English and Swahili, including podcasts broadcast on radio stations across the continent.
Sputnik Africa was launched in 2022 and operates in five languages, including Swahili, Amharic and Oromo, in Africa, while it broadcasts in more than 30 languages and operates 26 multifunctional centres worldwide.
In a video address to the opening ceremony in Tanzania, Lavrov said the new offices would help provide African audiences with information free from distortion or ideological filters.
“The opening of regional offices in Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg will help provide African audiences with greater access to objective, verified information - free from distortion or ideological filters,” he said.
Lavrov thanked the authorities in South Africa and Tanzania for supporting the initiative, saying their support was essential to the effective and safe work of journalists.
“Today, as the collective West persistently suppresses any dissenting voices within the global information space - resorting to methods such as censorship and the application of double standards - the value of such work can hardly be overstated,” he said.
Mashatile welcomes Johannesburg office
South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile welcomed the Johannesburg office, describing it as an important development for the media landscape in South Africa and the wider continent.
He said the opening reflected growing co-operation between South Africa and Russia and would contribute to the diversity of perspectives in public debate.
“The opening of Sputnik's regional office in Johannesburg represents an important development for the media landscape of South Africa and the African continent,” Mashatile said.
He added that the office could help amplify African voices and tell African stories, expressing the hope that it would become a platform for constructive engagement, quality journalism and stronger ties between South Africa, Russia and the continent.
Russia’s ambassador to South Africa, Roman Ambarov, said professional journalism and access to diverse sources were increasingly important at a time when information was becoming politicised.
“We live in a time when information is increasingly politicised, and it is not always easy to distinguish facts from disinformation,” Ambarov said.
“That is why professional journalism, access to diverse sources and the opportunity to hear different perspectives are more important than ever.”
Ambarov said the Rossiya Segodnya Group, which includes Sputnik, had established a significant presence across Africa.
Tanzania expects broader news coverage
Said Shaib Moussa, deputy permanent secretary at Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Dar es Salaam office was expected to cover developments in Tanzania, the region, the continent and the wider world, including geopolitics and development.
“We believe that the Sputnik agency will provide us with news of the country, the region, the continent, and the entire world in all spheres without exception, including the sphere of geopolitics and development,” Moussa said.
Dmitry Kiselev, director-general of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, said the establishment of editorial offices in African countries demonstrated trust between nations, their people, journalists and audiences.
He said this trust would strengthen information sovereignty in both Africa and Russia.
Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya, said Sputnik would seek to report on Africa to Russian audiences and Russia to African audiences, describing the centres as an opportunity to strengthen longstanding ties between the two sides.
Kelvin Kanje, acting director of Tanzania’s Department of Information Services, said the opening strengthened relations between the two countries, expanded opportunities for professional co-operation and gave Tanzania a greater opportunity to make its voice heard internationally.
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