Over 1,000 Kenyans lured into Russia’s war in Ukraine, 50+ Ghanaians killed there — three governments confirmed it, none confronted Moscow

Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa have all confirmed Russia recruited their citizens to fight in Ukraine — yet all three governments are avoiding a confrontational approach toward Moscow, Reuters reported on 15 March. Kenya's foreign minister is traveling to Russia to raise the issue while describing the visit as "not a confrontation." Ghana has confirmed over 50 of its citizens killed, and South Africa is still investigating whether Wagner was involved in recruiting its nationals.

Kenya: over 1,000 recruited, minister heads to Moscow

Kenya's foreign affairs minister Musalia Mudavadi is visiting Russia under pressure from families of recruits, but told Reuters he was "pragmatic and realistic" about the situation. 

"We want Kenyans stopped — they should not be enlisted at all," Mudavadi said. "It's not a confrontation. This is about speaking to issues as they are and the distress that they're causing to the Kenyan people."

According to Reuters, Kenya's own intelligence agency documented over 1,000 Kenyans recruited into Russian forces. Mudavadi said he could not give a precise figure. Russia stated that its Foreing Minister Sergei Lavrov would discuss the "state and prospects for the development of traditionally friendly Russian-Kenyan relations" with Mudavadi — with no mention of recruitment.

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Ghana: 50+ dead, minister vows to "act"

Ghana confirmed in February that more than 50 of its citizens had been killed in the war after being "lured into battle," Reuters says. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the true figure could be higher.

"Where Ghanaian citizens are being harmed, deceived, or drawn into a war they did not understand, we will speak plainly and we will act," he said. 

Ablakwa also confirmed that Ghana would maintain diplomatic relations with Russia. He said:

"If Africans are being lured into a foreign war through deception and exploitation, then Africa should respond collectively."

South Africa: Wagner probe open, state involvement not proven

South Africa, a Russian ally, is still investigating the role of Wagner — the Russian mercenary force now succeeded by the Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps — in the recruitment of its nationals. 

"We're investigating the conditions under which people left," Zane Dangor, director general of South Africa's foreign affairs department, told Reuters. "That investigation will also determine if Wagner has been involved." 

Dangor stated evidence so far did not point to Russian state involvement.

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South Africa has previously negotiated with Russia to return citizens lured into fighting under false pretenses.

"Just scratching the surface"

Ukraine says over 1,780 Africans are fighting on the Russian side, though analysts say the real figure is likely higher. Inpact, a Geneva-based organization that investigates Russian recruitment networks, has verified a single list of 1,417 recruits from across the continent — with Cameroon, Egypt, and Ghana among the countries with the most names, according to Reuters..

Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine. The European Parliament voted 479 to 17 on 12 March to condemn Russia for the practice and classified it as human trafficking.