Introduction
By all accounts, except perhaps Russian President Vladimir Putin’s, the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine is an epic failure. Since launching a devastating imperial war in Ukraine, the Russian military has suffered approximately 1.4 million battlefield casualties. Russia needs 30 000 new recruits monthly to replace its casualties, leading to the exploitative and inhumane policy of mobilising African citizens into the Russian army under false pretences. Matilda Gillis, an expert on public and international law, characterises African recruits as “forced fighters,” a term reflecting the coercive and forcible circumstances under which many are enlisted in the Russian military. This article adopts Gillis’ terminology to describe these recruits. This analysis will seek to explore how African citizens are recruited into Russia’s war, and most importantly, what can be done to stop it.
Forced fighters on the front lines
Russia recruits African civilians into its army through promises of employment, funding, or citizenship. Recruiters prey on vulnerable demographics, such as students and young people in need of employment. For Kenyan national Oduour, the promise was a plumbing job paying 100 000 KSh. Instead, he found himself on the front lines shooting down drones. His experience is far from unique. Jobs are offered, supposedly in sectors such as carpentry, private security, or driving, which become military service when forced fighters arrive in Russia. Even the economic incentives are deceptive, as large signing bonuses may never materialise or are deposited into inaccessible bank accounts which recruits cannot access. In some cases, those trapped in the Russian military are pressured to recruit their friends and family members, perpetuating an exploitative cycle.
According to forced fighters’ accounts, upon arrival in Russia, they are fingerprinted, have essential documents like passports seized, and are sent to military camps (if lucky) or directly to the front lines. There is little to no training provided. Ukraine’s foreign ministry estimates that there are over 24 000 foreign nationals from 44 countries fighting for Russia, with the majority believed to come from Africa. While not all foreign mercenaries were necessarily trafficked or coerced, accounts from African nationals demonstrate the majority were deceived into military service under false pretences. According to Kenyan National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, once forced fighters arrive in Russia, they are “basically just given a gun to go and die.” On the front lines, African troops are often regarded as expendable manpower, with reports documenting racist treatment from Russian forces towards forced fighters.
According to a CNN investigation, once African civilians arrive in Russia, they are forced into signing military service contracts, often in Cyrillic, that contain egregious terms such as obligatory combat operation participation. Contracts even have requirements for civilian life, such as lifelong restrictions on travel, impeding forced fighters’ ability to return home. Many African forced fighters have been captured as POWs in Ukraine, while thousands of others have died fighting a war they never intended to join. It is estimated that 22% of recruited African civilians die in battle, while 42% of foreign fighters in Russia die after four months.
What can be done?
There is no doubt that Russia’s recruitment of African civilians through deception is a means of exploitation and a serious human rights violation. The question then becomes: how do you stop a state that shows a disregard for international norms, law, and human life? International pressure, including economic sanctions, has failed to stop Russia from waging war in Ukraine or stem Putin’s aggression. Thus, one can assume that condemnations from the international community will do little to prevent Russia from recruiting African civilians into its army. New efforts are needed to prevent enlistment before it occurs and protect those already deceived.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, has collaborated closely with African governments in an effort to bring awareness to the issue of forced fighters and Russia’s illegal operations. In February, Sybiha and Ghana Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa discussed measures to prevent African civilians from falling victim to recruitment schemes. As chair of the African Union regional bloc in 2027, Ablakwa pledged that Ghana will explore ways to raise public awareness about trafficking networks. However, coordinating efforts across over 40 countries poses a significant logistical challenge and will require cooperation between governments, international organisations, and grassroots networks.
Prevention is only one piece of the puzzle, however, as thousands of forced fighters are already trapped in the Russian military. Russia has shown little care for International Human Rights Law (IHRL) or International Humanitarian Law (IHL), yet Matilda Gillis posits that classifying forced fighters as victims of servitude or human trafficking could lead to increased human rights protections. This designation would recognise the coercion and exploitation that brought forced fighters to Russia, rather than treating them as foreign combatants or mercenaries. It could also empower NGOs and international organisations to provide greater legal, humanitarian, and repatriation assistance.
Conclusion
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to be waged and the Russian war machine crumbles even further, Putin’s decision to mobilise African civilians to the front lines is a devastating, degrading, and desperate escalation as untrained forced fighters are coerced into military service. Stopping this exploitation presents a formidable challenge, as victims are trapped in Russia, with little hope of returning home.
