African youth are being lured into the Russian army through deception — NYT

Many young people from African countries are ending up in the army in Russia's war against Ukraine. 

 

According to The New York Times, while some are voluntarily going as mercenaries, the majority are deceived with promises of civilian jobs and later forcibly drawn into military operations.

 

One of them is Kamau from Kenya, who initially reported being in transit via Istanbul. A few weeks later, he sent a photo of himself in military uniform with a weapon, and in August, he reported being in a trench in Ukraine. After that, contact with him was lost. According to Kamau's mother, her son told friends he was going to Russia as an ordinary worker.

 

It is reported that rapidly established firms across Africa operate under the guise of travel agencies or employment companies, carrying out recruitment via WhatsApp and Telegram. In many cases, contracts are in Russian, and recruits sign them without understanding the content.

 

According to experts, the scarcity of formal jobs and high youth unemployment in Africa are contributing to the widespread nature of such deceptive schemes. According to Kenyan intelligence services, approximately 1,000 Kenyans have gone to Ukraine via Russia so far, of whom only 30 have returned alive.

 

The government announced that it has intensified checks on young people traveling on international flights in order to reduce such incidents.

 

Kenyan Senator Okoyiti Andrew Omtatah explained the situation caused by unemployment with a comparison: "If a ship arrived in Mombasa today with a sign saying 'Slaves needed in the West,' there wouldn't be any space left," he said.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged that foreigners are participating in the "special military operation," but emphasized that they are not being forced. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that they are unaware of such cases of deception.

 

In turn, Ukraine's ambassador to South Africa, Oleksandr Shcherba, accused Russia of exploiting young Africans seeking work.

 

Studies note that losses in the Russian army remain high, increasing the need for new fighters. Against this backdrop, advertisements for joining the Russian army in Africa have increased, offering promises of thousands of dollars in monthly salary, large one-time payments, and citizenship.

 

There are reports of men being fraudulently recruited into the Russian army from Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Botswana, and Mali. In February, a person in Kenya was accused of recruiting 22 Kenyans to Russia.

 

Cameroon announced that 16 of its citizens were killed in Ukraine, while in Ghana, approximately 55 citizens are said to have died.

 

25-year-old Kgosi Pelekekaye from Botswana also fell into such a situation. He went to Russia intending to work, but was subjected to military training there. When he refused to sign the contract, pressure was put on him. He was later not sent to the front due to a heart condition and managed to escape.

 

In some cases, criminal cases have also been opened against recruiters.