YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Officials in Cameroon announced Monday that Russian authorities have verified the deaths of 16 soldiers from the Central African nation who were killed fighting in Ukraine, based on correspondence sent to Russia’s embassy in Cameroon.
The foreign affairs ministry in Cameroon sent a communication to the Russian embassy confirming the deaths of the 16 Cameroonian soldiers who were deployed in Ukraine’s conflict zone. Ministry officials stated that “necessary arrangements” have been initiated to reach out to the families of the fallen soldiers.
On the same day, the ministry issued another communication requesting that relatives of six additional Cameroonian citizens residing in Russia visit the ministry regarding “urgent matters” related to their family members. No additional details were provided about these cases.
Last March, Cameroon’s defense minister directed the nation’s military leadership to implement “strict emergency measures” aimed at stopping additional defections among current and former military personnel.
Ukrainian officials estimate that over 1,700 African nationals have been enlisted to fight alongside Russian forces, with multiple African governments reporting that their citizens were deceived into combat roles through promises of well-paying employment or professional training opportunities.
A security briefing delivered to Kenya’s parliament this year revealed that approximately 1,000 Kenyan nationals were recruited for Russian military service after being deceived with false job promises before being deployed to combat zones.
Ukraine’s intelligence services reported this month that two Nigerian citizens were killed in combat while fighting for Russian forces late last year.
A separate AP investigation conducted in 2024 revealed that African women were also deceived into supporting Russia’s military operations, being sent to work in facilities manufacturing attack drones for use against Ukraine. These women were recruited through social media advertisements promoting educational work programs.
