Journalists from across Africa and Russia are set to converge in Addis Ababa later this month for a significant international forum aimed at strengthening collaboration and understanding between their respective media landscapes.
The event, titled “Russia-Africa: The Way of Friendship and Cooperation,” will take place from April 22nd to 23rd, 2025, in the Ethiopian capital. It is being hosted by the Alpha-Dialogue Centre for Additional Professional Education, with support from the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.
Organizers say the forum is designed to create a vital platform for interaction between Russian and African media professionals. The focus will be on building new relationships and fostering a deeper understanding of each other's work and perspectives. Leading journalists from across the African continent are expected to attend.
Confirmed participants include media representatives from Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and the host nation, Ethiopia, alongside their counterparts from prominent Russian news outlets.
The two-day event promises a packed agenda, featuring insightful analytical reports, a collaborative roundtable session for journalists to share their experiences, and various discussion platforms to delve into key issues facing the media in both regions. This information was reported by KBC.
Beyond the in-person engagements, the forum will also extend its reach through online sessions. These include a teleconference bearing the same name as the forum, “The Way of Friendship and Cooperation,” as well as four dedicated lectures exploring the multifaceted interactions between Russia and Africa.
The Alpha-Dialogue Centre, the driving force behind this initiative, is a Saint Petersburg-based, socially-oriented non-profit organization. They are dedicated to implementing a range of educational, cultural, and cognitive projects, alongside offering professional development programs for both young people and adults. Since 2021, the Centre has been actively working to build stronger ties between Russia and Africa through various projects spanning media, education, and diplomacy. According to ENA, this upcoming forum in Addis Ababa marks another significant step in their ongoing efforts.