The key facts
- On October 20, Sputnik bureaus opened in Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg; content is produced in English and Swahili, and the audience of the broadcasting radio stations, according to the agency, exceeds 100 million listeners.
- Lavrov said the centers will provide access to information
Opening of centers in Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg
On October 20, two new regional editorial centers of Sputnik radio were launched — in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Johannesburg (South Africa). Dozens of local journalists work in the offices, preparing news, radio programs and podcasts for African audiences. Content is produced in English and Swahili, among other languages. According to the agency, the combined audience of the radio stations broadcasting its materials exceeds 100 million listeners.
Lavrov's statement
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a video address on the occasion of the launch, said that the opening of the bureaus
Reaction in South Africa and Kiselyov's assessment
The opening of the editorial center in Johannesburg was welcomed by South African Vice President Paul Mashatile. According to him, it reflects the development of cooperation between Russia and South Africa and contributes to a diversity of opinions in the media space; he expressed hope that the platform will help tell more stories about the lives of Africans. Rossiya Segodnya media group Director General Dmitry Kiselyov called the ability to work directly on the territory of African states evidence of mutual trust and, in his view, such cooperation strengthens the information sovereignty of Russia and the countries of the continent.
Context
The launch of the bureaus took place on the eve of the third Russia—Africa summit, which will be held on October 28–29 in Moscow. Sputnik Africa has been operating since 2022 and produces materials in five languages, including Swahili, Amharic and Oromo. With the opening of the new offices, Sputnik's international network now numbers 26 multifunctional editorial centers around the world. According to Life.ru, Lavrov also previously discussed bilateral cooperation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed to him Vladimir Putin's invitation to visit Moscow in connection with the upcoming Gas Exporting Countries Forum on October 27.
