Russia promises not to recruit Kenyan citizens for war against Ukraine
Illustrative photo: Russian mercenaries from Africa (Getty Images)
"I want to make clear that we have now agreed that Kenyans shall not be enlisted through the Ministry of Defense," Musalia Mudavadi emphasized.
According to him, Kenyan citizens will also "no longer be eligible for enlisting and special operations."
Meanwhile, Sergey Lavrov stated that Kenyans already fighting on Russia’s side serve "on a voluntary basis" under Russian law. He added that the contracts they signed allow for early termination.
Other African countries have also expressed concern about their citizens’ involvement in the war. For example, South Africa reported the deaths of two of its citizens in combat, while Botswana’s authorities are trying to determine the fate of three people who were conscripted into the Russian army.
In several cases, according to governments, people were misled with offers of civilian jobs in Russia.
Recruitment of African citizens to participate in the war against Ukraine is a common practice for Russia. Such offers are often presented as opportunities for training or legal employment.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that over 1,700 citizens of African countries are fighting in the Russian forces involved in the war against Ukraine.
Following reports of African casualties in the Russian army, several countries, including Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, began demanding explanations from Moscow regarding the recruitment of their citizens.
