Deutsche Welle
March 28, 2022

Ukraine’s bid to recruit fighters from Africa sparks uproar

Nigeria, Senegal and Algeria have criticized Ukraine’s efforts to enlist international fighters as it resists the Russian invasion. Analysts say those who have responded to the call need to reconsider.

Russia’s war on Ukraine is barely two weeks old, but Kyiv is already attracting potential foreign fighters from as far away as Kenya.

“If Ukraine decides to pay me a very good amount of money, which I know I cannot earn here, I will definitely go there and fight,” said Kimanzi Nashon, a student in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

“When we go there, and then the war ends before anything happens, I will come back to Kenya and be a millionaire,” said Nashon.

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Ukraine’s call to all

They were reacting to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his call for like-minded people to come to his country’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

According to Ryan Cummings, director of Signal Risk, a South African-based security risk management consultancy, Zelenskyy might be capitalizing on Africa’s challenging socioeconomic conditions to lure African fighters to Ukraine.

…African countries have come out strongly to condemn Ukraine’s call for African fighters to join the “international legion” against the Russian invasion.

On Monday, Nigeria issued a warning on Twitter to its citizens that it would not tolerate any recruitment of mercenaries to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against Russian troops.

A spokesperson for Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, Francisca Omayuli, said Nigeria would not allow its nationals to volunteer as mercenaries.

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According to the Nigerian daily The Guardian, last week more than 100 young men registered their interest in fighting for Ukraine at the country’s embassy in Abuja.

Senegal has also expressed its displeasure with Ukraine’s government, saying that at least 36 people in Senegal were ready to confront Russian forces.

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Senegal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it was astonished to learn that the Ukrainian Embassy in Dakar had posted an appeal on its Facebook page for foreign citizens to come to Ukraine’s military defense.

In a statement, the Senegalese government criticized the initiative and warned its citizens that recruiting volunteers, mercenaries or foreign fighters on Senegalese soil is illegal.

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Algeria…also called on Ukraine to desist from trying to enlist fighters from its country. Its government, too, has remained silent over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“For the past 20 or 30 years, we have seen many recruiters who recruit young Africans to take them to play the role of mercenaries,” Gaye said, adding that the prospect of economic gain easily lures young people.