Botswana Foils Citizens’ Attempt to Join Russian Army

Botswana says it has intercepted citizens at airports in Botswana, South Africa, and Ethiopia attempting to travel to Russia to join its military in the war against Ukraine. Minister Phenyo Butale told lawmakers that 22 Batswana had been lured into deceptive recruitment schemes, with eight stopped just before departure at airports in Gaborone, Johannesburg, and Addis Ababa. Butale said recruits did not fully understand the dangers of entering a foreign conflict, rejecting the idea that the journeys were simply matters of personal choice. He warned that under Botswana’s Foreign Enlistment Act, disguising military service as employment or training does not exempt individuals from the law. Butale reiterated the government’s appeal for young citizens to exercise caution before accepting unfamiliar foreign job or training offers, expressing concern that some citizens continue to ignore government warnings about the risks of enlisting in foreign conflicts.