Botswana has stopped eight of its citizens from being recruited into the Russian military after intercepting them at airports in Botswana, South Africa and Ethiopia, as the southern African country intensifies efforts to prevent its citizens from being drawn into the war in Ukraine.
International Relations Minister Phenyo Butale told parliament that the eight citizens were rescued before they could be taken to Russia and deployed to the battlefield, Bloomberg reported.
Botswana has issued repeated warnings about recruitment schemes targeting its citizens with promises of jobs, training and security work overseas.
According to Butale, some recruits only discover the true nature of the arrangements after arriving abroad and being sent toward the frontlines.
Botswana has identified about 22 citizens who were allegedly deceived through such schemes.
The recruitment of Africans into Russia’s military has become a growing concern across the continent. Citizens and Russian nationals have been arrested and charged in Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa over alleged recruitment activities linked to Moscow’s war effort.
Africans Drawn Into War
Ghana has also raised concerns over the recruitment of its citizens to fight for Russia. Accra says Moscow has agreed to end the “illegal recruitment” of Ghanaians, after the number of its citizens killed while serving with Russian forces rose to 62, with another 15 missing.
The latest death toll is up from 55 reported in February, when Ghanaian officials first raised the issue.
Kenya and South Africa have similarly worked to repatriate citizens who were reportedly deceived into signing contracts with the Russian military.
A recent investigation by INPACT alleges that at least 1,417 African nationals from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa were recruited to fight for Russia between 2023 and 2025. It estimates that at least 316 have been killed in combat.
Russia Needs More Troops
The recruitment comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year and Moscow faces significant military losses.
Butale said Africans recruited through such schemes are ultimately “thrust onto the frontlines of a foreign war” they never intended to fight.
Botswana has also warned that fighting for a foreign military is a criminal offence under its laws, adding another legal risk for citizens who accept such offers.
