Western Mainstream Media Discourse on Russia-Africa Relations amid Russo-Western Confrontation

The article focuses on the Western mainstream media (WMM) discourse on Russia-Africa relations and how Russo-Western information confrontation affects the diplomatic dialogue between Russia and African states. Historically, the Soviet Union fostered a friendly relationship with the continent, characterized by solidarity and mutual respect. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the WMM discourse on Russian-African dialogue, and Russia’s change of interest largely diminished the volume of contacts, until recently, as Moscow is beginning to rebuild its relationship with Africa. However, the WMM narratives about Russia have contributed negatively to shaping its perception in Africa, thereby affecting Russia-Africa relations. Despite the negative stereotype about Russia in the WMM, the authors argue that these narratives have little to no effect on the Russia-Africa diplomatic dialogue at the current stage due to the Soviet Union’s legacy of establishing ties with African countries, and taking into account that the Russian Federation continues to engage with Africa in various fields. Additionally, since the escalation of the crisis in Ukraine, media reporting has even made Russia popular in Africa due to its one-sided coverage, leading dissenting audiences to view the news coverage as propaganda or an agenda to suit Western interests. The authors, however, conclude that the diplomatic relations between Russia and Africa are not solely shaped by geopolitical interests but might also be influenced by Western media due to their widespread narratives. As a result, efforts from both Russia and Africa may contribute to counteracting negative media effects and revitalise positive relationship.

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