Kenya’s foreign minister began a visit to Russia this week, facing mounting pressure to secure an end to the recruitment of Kenyan citizens into the Russian military. The trip comes as reports surface detailing the extent of African involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, raising concerns across the continent and prompting diplomatic responses from several nations.
Recent investigations reveal that hundreds, potentially over 1,000, Kenyans have been recruited to fight alongside Russian forces, often enticed by promises of lucrative employment opportunities. Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, acknowledged the pressure from affected families, stating, “We want Kenyans stopped – they should not be enlisted at all,” ahead of his departure for Moscow. He emphasized a pragmatic approach, recognizing Russia as a long-standing partner. “It’s not a confrontation,” Mudavadi said. “This is about speaking to issues as they are and the distress that they’re causing to the Kenyan people, and we necessitate a joint effort to be able to resolve it.”
The Russian Defence Ministry has not yet issued a public response to the allegations. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would discuss “the state and prospects for the development of traditionally friendly Russian-Kenyan relations” with Mudavadi, including economic and trade partnerships, during the visit.
The scale of African recruitment extends beyond Kenya. Ukraine estimates that over 1,700 African citizens are fighting on the Russian side, a figure analysts believe is likely an underestimate. Ghana has reported that more than 50 of its citizens have been killed in the conflict after being “lured into battle,” with Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa suggesting the actual number of Ghanaian casualties could be higher. Ablakwa affirmed Ghana’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with Russia, but stressed, “where Ghanaian citizens are being harmed, deceived, or drawn into a war they did not understand, we will speak plainly and we will act.”
South Africa, a traditional ally of Russia, is taking a more cautious approach. Zane Dangor, director general of South Africa’s foreign affairs department, stated that the government is investigating the circumstances surrounding its citizens’ involvement in the conflict, including potential links to the Wagner mercenary group, now succeeded by the Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps. Dangor indicated that current evidence does not point to direct involvement by the Russian state in the recruitment of South African citizens.
Investigations by organizations like Inpact, a Geneva-based group tracking the recruitment networks, have verified lists detailing the involvement of citizens from across the continent. A report published in February by Inpact identified Cameroon, Egypt, and Ghana as countries with a significant number of recruits, detailing a total of 1,417 citizens. Lou Osborn, a member of Inpact, stated, “We think we are just scratching the surface with these numbers,” adding that the organization has received contact from over 40 families since the report’s release, confirming the deceptive recruitment tactics employed.
Ablakwa is coordinating with other African nations to address the issue on a continental level, stating, “This is bigger than Ghana. If Africans are being lured into a foreign war through deception and exploitation, then Africa should respond collectively.”
Despite the growing concerns, Pier Pigou, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group, believes the issue is unlikely to significantly damage relations between Russia and African countries in the absence of substantial political backlash. He suggested that many view the situation as individuals seeking economic opportunities, stating, “For the vast majority of people it’s a case of ‘these dudes are just trying to earn a living. And because their countries don’t provide that for them, they’re going to … Grab opportunities that arise.'”
