African nations tiptoe around recruitment of citizens by Russian networks

Record ID: 2365066

  • Title: African nations tiptoe around recruitment of citizens by Russian networks
  • Date: 15th March 2026
  • Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (MARCH 15, 2026) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF TISZA MARCH THROUGH BUDAPEST TISZA LEADER PETER MAGYAR LEADING PROCESSION CROWDS WITH FLAGS AND SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) TISZA SUPPORTER, ERIKA BALAZSI, SAYING: "I expect the country to embark on a path of improvement and these terrible corruption issues to end. And every
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  • Keywords: Mudavadi Musalia affairs crisis embassy families fighters foreign kenya nairobi russia south africa ukraine war
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • Reuters ID: LVA00E416415032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Kenya’s foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi is visiting Russia this week under pressure at home to stop Moscow’s recruitment of Kenyans into its military.
    Recent revelations about African recruitment into Russia’s depleted forces, often via intermediaries promising lucrative jobs, have angered families in Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.
    “We want Kenyans stopped, they should not be enlisted at all,” Mudavadi told Reuters, saying families were gathering more courage to come forward. Still, he described his approach as pragmatic and realistic, noting Russia is a long‑standing partner.
    “It’s not a confrontation… we need a joint effort to resolve it.” He said.
    Ukraine says that there are over 1,700 Africans fighting on the Russian side, though analysts say that figure is likely higher. Kenya’s intelligence agency reports more than 1,000 Kenyans recruited, though Mudavadi declined to give a precise figure.
    South Africa is also investigating how dozens of its citizens ended up in Ukraine. “That investigation will also determine if Wagner has been involved,” said foreign affairs director-general Zane Dangor, adding there is so far no evidence of Russian state involvement.
    Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine.
    Inpact, a Geneva-based organisation that has investigated the Russian recruitment networks, has verified several lists of recruits it obtained, including one that detailed 1,417 citizens from across the continent. Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana were among the countries with most recruits, it said in a report published in February.
    (Production : Mukelwa Hlatshwayo, Jefferson Kahinju, Siyabonga Sishi) 
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