Ashraf AboArafe
WITH the participation of 16 African nations, Russian Ambassador to Cairo Georgiy Borisenko and Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for International Cooperation, inaugurated the International Russian Language Conference in Cairo. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Vadim Zaitchikov, Director of the Russian Cultural Centers in Egypt, along with 87 Russian-language educators representing countries across the African continent.
Organized by Rossotrudnichestvo in cooperation with Moscow State Linguistic University, the week-long conference seeks to deepen academic exchange and strengthen the presence of the Russian language in Africa.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Borisenko noted:
“Amid today’s complex geopolitical landscape, we value the commitment of African nations to advancing Russian studies and preserving interest in the Russian language. It is not merely a tool of communication, but a gateway to an ancient cultural and scientific heritage, and a continuation of longstanding cooperation among our countries.”
Pavel Shevtsov highlighted that the conference extends a broader series of international initiatives to promote Russian worldwide.
Earlier this year, “Russian Language Weeks” were held in Turkey and Vietnam, engaging more than 180 teachers across Europe and Asia.
“Today,” he added, “87 Russian-language teachers from 16 African countries gather in Cairo to discuss national approaches to teaching Russian as a foreign language — an effort that strengthens educational cooperation and preserves the language’s presence on the continent.”
Reflecting on the growing role of Russian in Africa’s educational landscape,
Prof. Saleh Hashim, Advisor to Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized the unifying power of language:
“Russian has become a language that unites millions around the world — creating space for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cultural cooperation. We are pleased to witness the rising interest in it across African nations.”
Following the official opening, Prof. Irina Shchukina, Head of International Cooperation at Moscow State Linguistic University, and Prof. Mohamed Nasr El-Gebaly, Head of Russian Language Departments at MUST University and Sadat Academy, led a joint session discussing the history and future of Russian-language dissemination in Egypt.
As part of the advanced professional training program, participants attended an interactive lecture on Russian language and literature in the modern media landscape, as well as contemporary linguistic dynamics.
The first day concluded with a roundtable addressing current challenges in teaching Russian to non-native speakers, with contributions from experts representing Algeria, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
