The EU’s decision to ban Russia’s publicly financed international media flagships RT and Sputnik from the bloc was predictable, which is why “Russia Must Urgently Devise & Implement An International Media Backup Plan” for continuing to engage with Western audiences as well as retain as many of its staff and contributors that are from those countries. It seems to only be a matter of time before the UK and US ban those outlets too. These companies’ presence in the Global South is much more robust and secure, but an impending crisis of a very similar nature to that which just happened to its Western operations might be about to hit RT’s planned African ones.

The company announced in early February that it’ll open up a new office in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that’ll function as the hub of its African operations. On the surface, the decision is a sensible enough one since many foreign media outlets are based in that city, which is located in one of Africa’s most economically prosperous, politically stable, and safest countries. The problem, however, is that Kenya recently exposed itself as a Western proxy beholden to its joint American-British patrons following its UN Ambassador’s scathing criticism of Russia at the UNSC after Moscow recognized the independence of the Donbass Republics last week.

Martin Kimani very strongly implied that Russia was pursuing an outdated “colonial” policy influenced by “dangerous nostalgia”. He rejected what he described as Russia’s alleged “irredentism and expansionism”, which the diplomat said might have been driven by “racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural factors.” These remarks prompted concern among some that Kenya isn’t a viable hub for RT’s planned African operation since Nairobi might ultimately be pressured by its Western patrons to shutter that company just like what happened in the EU. Simply put, Kenya isn’t a reliable place for Russia to invest potentially millions of dollars into its strategic communication operations all across Africa.

Neighboring Ethiopia, which has enjoyed very close ties with Russia since the late imperial period when St. Petersburg provided arms and advisors to King Menelik II in helping to repel the Italian invaders during the historic 1896 Battle of Adwa, is a much better place for RT to locate its planned African hub. Addis Ababa hosts the African Union and many international organizations. It’s also retained excellent ties with the Eurasian Great Power all throughout the Soviet era and into the present day, including between the former TPLF-led administration and Prime Minister Abiy’s incumbent one. RT importantly helped expose the truth about the now-terrorist-designated TPLF’s Hybrid War on Ethiopia too.

Unlike Kenya, Ethiopia has recently proven that it’ll proudly stand up to Western pressure so Moscow shouldn’t have any concerns about Addis Ababa potentially shuttering its flagship international media company like Nairobi might possibly do as hinted by the latter’s latest criticism of Russia that very strongly implied that it was obeying orders from its joint American-British patrons. Furthermore, military-intelligence and strategic ties between the Ethiopian and Russian permanent bureaucracies have consistently remained close and continue strengthening, especially in light of the US-led West’s TPLF-driven Hybrid War on that Horn of Africa leader.

This means that there’s no credible chance that Ethiopia would follow in the shameful footsteps of the West or its Kenyan proxy in banning Russian media or slamming it at the UNSC, respectively. The way forward is simple enough and it’s for Russian and Ethiopian officials to seriously consider relocating RT’s regional operations to Addis Ababa in order to sustainably ensure their long-term viability in the new circumstances unleashed by the US-led West’s reaction to the military-political means that Russia resorted to for ensuring the integrity of its national security red lines in Ukraine. Even if Moscow decides against a full relocation, it should at the least countenance opening up a national office there.

That facility could be used as a backup in case Kenya pressures or ultimately bans RT upon the demands of its Western patrons. Ethiopia could potentially improve its prospects of a full relocation by offering certain incentives to Russia for undertaking this arguably much-needed decision to preemptively secure its strategic communication operations across the continent. Whatever form it takes, PM Abiy’s government should urgently prioritize this possibility since the window of opportunity hasn’t ever been more promising. Any success on the front would contribute to comprehensively diversifying the Russian-Ethiopian Strategic Partnership in new and exciting ways that advance both of their long-term interests.