Botswana authorities have launched an investigation after reports emerged that two young men were allegedly recruited to fight in Ukraine, amid growing concerns that Africans are being misled by false promises of military training and fast pay.
Officials in Gaborone confirmed they are looking into the case involving two men, aged 19 and 20, who are believed to have been tricked into becoming part of the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
The Ministry of International Relations said the pair thought they were enrolling for short-term military training in Russia. The government is now working with diplomats and security agencies to establish the facts and ensure the young men are safely returned home.
The ministry has warned young people to be extremely cautious of what it described as “dubious and dangerous international recruitment schemes.” It advised anyone receiving such offers to verify them through embassies or consulates before taking any steps. The United Nations has also urged African governments to remain vigilant and issue strong public warnings to prevent similar incidents.
Reports of comparable cases are surfacing across Africa, raising alarm about the growing risks faced by young people on the continent.
In another case, a Nigerian man, Kehinde Oluwagbemileke, who reportedly joined the Russian army, was captured in July by the anti-Kremlin “Freedom for Russia” Legion during fighting in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian officials said he had been studying in Moscow before being enticed with promises of quick cash and a safe role, only to be sent into what they described as a poorly prepared “suicide assault” at the front line.
Earlier, a Senegalese citizen, Malick Diop, was also captured on the Toretsk front in Ukraine’s Donetsk region under similar circumstances. These cases suggest a rising number of young Africans are being drawn into the war on both sides, often through misinformation and false assurances.
The “Freedom for Russia” Legion, made up of Russian fighters opposed to the Kremlin, has repeatedly called on foreign soldiers to surrender or defect, accusing Moscow of placing little value on the lives of its troops.
