The war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect across the globe, and Africa is no exception. While African nations have remained largely neutral, many Africans are fighting on both sides of the conflict.
The brutal war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect far beyond Europe’s borders, impacting Africa in a complex and often unseen way. While African nations have remained largely neutral in the conflict, many Africans are being drawn into the fight, some for idealistic reasons and others out of desperation.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen the involvement of African mercenaries, with both sides recruiting fighters from the continent.
Official figures suggest over 200 Africans have joined the Ukrainian forces, while estimates indicate more than a thousand have enlisted with Russia. These individuals, often called soldiers of fortune, were enticed by promises of substantial payments and post-conflict potential citizenship.
Lured by Promises, Africans Enlist as Mercenaries
Driven by economic hardship and the promise of hefty payments and even citizenship, hundreds of Africans have been recruited as mercenaries. Ukraine, facing a manpower shortage, has appealed to foreign fighters, including Africans. With its long history of military involvement in Africa, Russia is also believed to have recruited heavily from the continent, mainly through the Wagner Group, a notorious private military company.
Investigation has revealed that people are fooling poor Africans for employment in Russia or Ukraine and the assurance of becoming a citizen after serving their employment.
On one hand, both Ukraine and Russia have sought to recruit fighters from Africa. Ukraine, facing a manpower shortage early in the war, made a global appeal for volunteers. This call resonated with some young Africans facing bleak economic prospects at home. After the war, the promise of high pay and Ukrainian citizenship proved tempting for many.
A Risky Gamble
However, the reality of war is far from the rosy picture painted for potential recruits. News reports of captured or killed African fighters on social media highlight the dangers involved. Many may not have fully understood the brutality of war or the long-term consequences of fighting in a foreign conflict.
Difficulties in Travelling to Western Europe
During the Cold War, many young Africans, including future heads of state, have been enrolled in Russian universities and colleges since the 1960s. Starting in Soviet times, Moscow had opened its arms to African students as a way of courting influence in countries that were shaking themselves free of Western European colonial rule. Today, 35,000 African students are enrolled in Russian universities and colleges, the country’s education minister said earlier this year.
Some of the Africans integrated into the Soviet Union, now Russia, with some marrying Russian women; others came in trouble with the law and were subsequently drafted to the front line for freedom.
Liberians Leaving for a Better Life Abroad
It is an open secret that a considerable number of Liberians are leaving the country in search of a better life either through the mass graveyard of the sea or losing their way being trafficked in the Sahel and other northern parts of Africa. Some Liberian males and females have left in search of better from the Peace Island, where I was residing, and some have returned because of their experiences.
However, during the investigation, there is no evidence that any Liberian may have been coerced into mercenaries in Russia and Ukraine. Considering the porous borders of Liberia to Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, it is well known that hundreds of Liberians are leaving the country in search of a better life. What is not known is whether they are falling prey to people recruiting Africans for war in Russia-Ukraine, judging from the experience a lot of Liberians had in the 14 years of war in Liberia.
Social Media Reveals Grim Reality
While the exact numbers remain unclear, reports indicate hundreds of Africans have enlisted for Ukraine, while estimates suggest thousands may be fighting for Russia. Images of captured or dead African fighters circulating on social media paint a grim picture.
Social media has surfaced images of captured or deceased African mercenaries, sparking debates on the extent of African participation in the war. Despite the official neutral stance of African nations, these mercenaries are acting independently, without any African country officially deploying troops to support either side. The motivations for these African soldiers of fortune vary, with some seeking financial gain or citizenship while others may have been coerced into service.
Complexities of African Involvement
The reasons for African involvement are varied. Some are from Somalia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Angola, Kenya, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Zambia, and Tanzania, among many others. They are motivated by the hope of financial gain. Some have been commanded into their death, prisoners of war on both sides. Some are currently uncertain, while others are still alive. It is my prayer that Liberians are not fooled into being exploited. There is no evidence of local recruitment in Liberia so far.
Considering the hardship of people in the West African region, cajoling Africans into the Russia and Ukraine conflict is easy. Still, it is my sincere hope that the security agencies are keeping their ears and eyes wide open, observing the number of Liberians leaving for neighbouring countries and for what?
No Liberians are already risking their lives through the sea abroad apart from Liberians repatriated by the International Organization for Migration from Arabian countries. However, there is information about Liberians risking their lives in Libya, Tunisia, and others to sail through the sea. Some are even going to Gambia, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.
With the news of Liberia wanting to re-open the Russian Embassy in Monrovia and the visit of the Ukrainian Ambassador recent visit to Liberia in 2023, only time will tell when news of Liberians surface in Russia or Ukraine as mercenaries if they are not there already or dying for a cause they have no business for.
By Augustine Octavius, Contributor
