South Africa is working to bring home 17 of its citizens who joined mercenary groups in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, after they appealed for help from the Donbas region. The men, aged between 20 and 39, were allegedly recruited under false promises of well-paid work, according to government spokesman Vincent Magwenya. President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how they were drawn into “seemingly mercenary activities.”
The South African government has stated that 16 of the men are from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape. It remains unclear which side of the conflict they were fighting for, as South African law forbids citizens from fighting for any foreign army or group without government approval. Magwenya added that Pretoria is using diplomatic channels to try to bring them home and denounced the “exploitation of vulnerable young people.”
Analysts attribute the recruitment of these men to high youth unemployment, which stands at over 30% nationally, making South Africans easy targets for illegal recruitment. This incident highlights the growing concern over Russia’s use of African recruits, particularly since the dissolution of the Wagner paramilitary network. A recent BBC investigation found Russian-linked groups encouraging young Africans to join security or industrial jobs that later led to frontline work.
In a similar warning, South Africa cautioned young women about fake online job offers in Russia in August. Cases in Kenya and Nigeria have also exposed how criminal rings exploit Africans desperate for work opportunities abroad. The use of African mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has sparked global concern, with many countries warning their citizens about the risks of illegal recruitment.
The South African government’s efforts to bring home its citizens come as part of a broader initiative to protect its nationals from exploitation. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and awareness about the risks of illegal recruitment and the importance of verifying job offers, especially those from foreign countries. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains watchful of the developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its implications for African countries.