A report by the investigative group All Eyes on Wagner (AEOW) reveals that at least 94 Cameroonians have died fighting for Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. The document also highlights the forced recruitment of at least 335 Cameroonians into the ranks of the Russian army.
The AEOW investigation puts the number of fighters from 35 African countries engaged alongside Russia on the Ukrainian front at 1,417, recruited between 2023 and the first half of 2025. Among them, 316 are reported to have been killed, according to data from the Ukrainian movement "I Want to Live," which is calling for the withdrawal of these foreign fighters. Egypt tops the list of African countries concerned, with 56 nationals fighting for Russia, including 23 confirmed deaths. The loss rate among African recruits is estimated at 22%, not counting the wounded and missing.
Africans recruited by Russia are reportedly between the ages of 18 and 57. Lou Osborne, an AEOW official, stresses that this report will enable families to monitor the situation of their relatives. He encourages families with no news of their relatives to contact national authorities to request the repatriation of bodies and measures against such recruitment.
Since 2023, Russia has been stepping up the recruitment of foreign fighters, particularly in Africa, in addition to enlisting prisoners. The AEOW describes this strategy as a pillar aimed at integrating fighters into assault waves to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.
A report by the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) also addresses this issue, estimating that between 18 and 20 Russian fighters are African nationals from three or four countries. IFRI points out that Russia is targeting poor urban youth, attracted by the prospect of a better life through economic emigration, while exploiting their hopes with false job and training offers. IFRI describes these recruitment practices as abusive and deceptive, likening them to a form of human trafficking, with the tragic consequence of using amateur mercenaries as cannon fodder on the front lines.
Recently, CNN broadcast a video showing a Kenyan, identified as Francis, tied to a mine and insulted, illustrating the brutal reality of these enlistments. These revelations highlight the scale of the recruitment of African fighters by Russia and the risks they face in Ukraine. Attention is now turning to the measures African governments will take to protect their citizens and put an end to these practices.
The involvement of Cameroonian citizens in the Ukrainian conflict raises questions about the motivations and recruitment methods used by Russia. Victims' families and human rights organizations are calling for a thorough investigation and concrete action to prevent future enlistments.
