Nicknamed the “Black Wagners”, hundreds of African men have been recruited by the Russian army to fight against Ukraine. Lured by promises of high wages, jobs or even Russian passports, some have voluntarily opted to join Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army. But for others, things are far more complicated: dozens have been manipulated and forcibly recruited. Lucile Chaussoy, Marc Kouho and Saloum Sané investigate.
Many of the Africans recruited by Russia are sent to fight without proper training. Some have been killed, while others have been taken prisoner and are stuck on the front line between Russia and Ukraine, begging their countries to repatriate them.
Our team has been to Senegal, Ghana and Cameroon, where the same pattern repeats itself: young people leave in the hope of a better life and end up fighting in a war far from home.
