African nations seek return of citizens captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine - Bloomberg
Several African countries are seeking the return of their citizens captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia, with Kenya arguing that its nationals were trafficked into military service rather than voluntarily joining the war, Bloomberg reported on October 8.
Kenya is negotiating with Ukraine for the release of five citizens held as prisoners of war, Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi told lawmakers on October 8. Kenyan President William Ruto has personally raised the issue in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said.
According to Mudavadi, the detained Kenyans say they were recruited under false promises of civilian employment. Nairobi wants them recognized as victims of international human trafficking rather than prisoners of war.
Botswana is also seeking the return of one citizen held in Ukraine, while Zimbabwe has raised concerns about deceptive recruitment practices that have sent its nationals to foreign battlefields without military training.
African governments say recruiters have lured people to Russia with promises of jobs as drivers, security guards or cooks, only for them to be pressed into military service.
Ukraine, however, maintains that foreign nationals captured while fighting for Russian forces are prisoners of war and that their return should be handled through exchanges for Ukrainians held by Russia, according to Bloomberg.
Documents reviewed by the outlet show that Ukraine is holding at least 213 foreign nationals as prisoners of war, excluding Russians and North Koreans. Of those, 37 are from African countries.
According to Ukrainian government figures cited by Bloomberg, Russia has recruited more than 28,000 foreign nationals from 135 countries to fight in its war against Ukraine, with more than 5,000 killed.
Mudavadi said 84 Kenyans involved in the war have been killed or are missing, while another 34 are hospitalized in Russia. So far, 62 Kenyan nationals have been repatriated, and Nairobi is also negotiating the return of the bodies of four citizens.
Russia has not publicly acknowledged recruiting foreign nationals for the war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment on the practice.