Western broadcasters have shifted their focus away from development projects toward criticizing Moscow, Mayya Nikolskaya told RT

Western media outlets are increasingly spreading anti-Russian narratives in Africa, Mayya Nikolskaya has told RT.

Speaking ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, head of a research program at the Institute for International Studies at Russia’s MGIMO University, pointed to CNN, BBC, RFI and France 24 as examples of Western broadcasters whose coverage has shifted away from development initiatives toward criticism of Moscow.

“They [Western media] used to focus more on development projects, now they’re talking mostly just about how Russia is bad,” she said, suggesting that this creates opportunities for Russian media to offer alternative perspectives.

Nikolskaya also criticized France’s approach to Africa, arguing that Paris had become an increasingly unpopular partner in African states.

“There is a far-reaching consensus in the policy advice circles that Paris is…