African troops ‘forced to Ukraine frontlines’ while Russians stay in camp

African troops ‘forced to Ukraine frontlines’ while Russians stay in camp

A large number of Africans have joined the Russian army since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While some have voluntarily taken up arms via private companies under contract with the Kremlin, others were lured by false promises. One Cameroonian, who thought he was going to Russia to work as a caretaker, reveals the extent of this human trafficking.

“Tomorrow, they want us to go on a suicide mission. I’m going to drop the gun so I don’t have to go. I’ll probably be tortured and sent to prison, but I’d rather save my life.”

This was one of the last messages Samuel (first name changed) sent RFI, in mid-December.

A few weeks earlier, when we first made contact with him, he was in the infirmary of his unit’s camp in a region of eastern Ukraine, which we will not specify for security reasons. He was suffering yet another injury, having recently also been treated in a military hospital for a serious arm wound, following a drone attack.

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But, Samuel told us: “Here, as soon as we can walk, they send us to the front. And the Africans are on the front line. The Russians stay in the camp, sending the blacks and internationals to the front to occupy and advance. But every time we win, there’s a cost, especially the mines, which decimate us.”

‘A trip to the valley of the shadow of death’

Samuel’s story began in May 2024. Trained as a scientist and having worked for the Ministry of Lands, Cadastre and Land Affairs in Cameroon, he received a call from one of his friends, with whom he had shared his dreams of working abroad.

Read more on RFI English

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