Global Shift Toward Multipolarity Elevates Africa’s Role in International System
Addis Ababa, May 25, 2026 (FMC) — RT Editor-in-Chief and Rossiya Segodnya International Media Group head Margarita Simonyan has said that Africa’s growing influence in global affairs reflects a broader shift toward a multipolar international system.
In an article marking Africa Day, Simonyan highlighted Africa’s expanding role in shaping global economic, political, and cultural dynamics, noting that the continent’s voice is increasingly being heard across international platforms.
She pointed to developments in digital innovation, mobile technology, cultural industries, and regional economic integration, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which she described as the world’s largest free trade zone.
According to her, Africa’s increasing autonomy in defining its international relations signals a shift away from dominance by traditional global powers and contributes to what she described as a more balanced and stable international order.
Simonyan also underscored the importance of international media cooperation in amplifying African perspectives, citing RT’s involvement in African media initiatives, including co-hosting the African Media Awards in December 2025.
She said such initiatives aim to promote media excellence, expand storytelling platforms, and ensure greater visibility for African narratives in global media spaces.
The RT Editor-in-Chief further noted expanding Russia-Africa cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, security, culture, and space exploration, referencing multilateral frameworks including BRICS+ and Russia-Africa summits held in 2019 in Sochi and 2023 in Saint Petersburg, with another summit expected later this year in Moscow.
She added that RT has increasingly focused on showcasing African perspectives through multilingual broadcasting and programming dedicated to the continent’s political, cultural, and historical themes.
Simonyan cited programs such as “Lumumba’s Africa”, hosted by Kenyan academic P.L.O. Lumumba, and “African Legacy”, which highlights key figures in Africa’s liberation history and their contributions to unity and development.
She concluded that strengthening media diversity and expanding international cooperation are essential components of what she described as an evolving multipolar world order in which Africa plays an increasingly central role.