Waiting for Moses: Africa’s sons in Russia’s war
Summary
Many young men from African countries like Cameroon are joining Russian forces in the war in Ukraine. Some are experienced soldiers, while others are students or unemployed, hoping for better opportunities but end up fighting far from home.Key Facts
- Around 3,000 Africans from 35 countries are reported to be fighting with Russian forces in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian officials say Russia actively recruits these fighters in Africa, but a former Russian officer denies organized recruitment.
- Many recruits from Cameroon have connections to Russia due to past Soviet-era student exchange programs.
- Some Africans join because of economic hardship and the hope to support their families.
- Experienced soldiers from African conflicts, as well as students and unemployed young men, travel to Russia and sometimes end up signing military contracts.
- Experts describe this movement as a new type of migration linked to the war, taking away skilled workers and soldiers from African countries.
- Families of those who died, like Moses’s mother in Cameroon, wait for news or the return of their loved ones' bodies.
- This migration adds to existing movements of Africans seeking better opportunities abroad.
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