russia has changed its strategy of recruiting Africans for war
kremlin has changed its approach to recruiting foreigners into the russian army to participate in the war against Ukraine. Recruitment is now carried out on a systematic basis. This is noted by researchers at the Robert Lansing Institute.
Whereas previously it was mostly about semi-legal schemes and unofficial channels — closed groups in messengers, front companies, employment intermediaries, etc., now diplomatic and cultural representations of the russian federation on the continent increasingly serve as recruitment centers.
According to available data, more than 1,400 citizens of African countries who fought on russia’s side have already been identified. The deaths of at least 316 people have been confirmed, with a significant number of them dying less than a month after arriving at the front. Many were misled at the selection stage, being promised work in the civilian sector.
After a sharp reaction from governments in certain African countries, russia stopped recruiting their citizens, forming an unofficial “blacklist” of states. However, recruitment continues in other countries on the continent.
Despite rhetoric about “friendship with Africa” and fighting colonialism, kremlin is effectively exploiting the vulnerable youth of the continent as a resource for its war.
