Botswana has become the latest African nation to accuse Russia of deceptively recruiting its citizens to fight in the war against Ukraine, joining a growing list of countries raising similar alarms. The country’s foreign ministry said Batswana nationals were misled with promises of jobs and financial rewards, only to be forced into combat once in Russia. Officials say they continue receiving distressing calls from citizens describing dangerous frontline conditions. A monitoring platform linked to Ukraine’s defense ministry estimates nearly 3,000 African recruits have been identified, with about one in six killed in action. Meanwhile, Kenya has identified more than 1,000 of its citizens fighting for Russia and has formally demanded an end to the recruitment campaign. Egypt, Cameroon, and Ghana are also believed to be significant sources of African recruits, alongside several southern African nations.
Africanews