Botswana warns of Russian recruitment of its citizens for Ukraine conflict

Botswana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an alert that an "alarming" number of its nationals are being deceived by false job offers and taken to Russia, where they are compelled to fight on the front line in Ukraine. The ministry said it continues to receive distress calls from citizens describing dangerous conditions at the front.

The government has not disclosed how many Botswana citizens are currently involved, but noted that at least two 19‑year‑old men were recruited in December under the pretense of a short training stint that turned into combat. Independent monitoring by All Eyes on Wagner reports that more than 1,400 Africans have been recruited by Moscow since January 2023, with over 300 killed, the largest contingents coming from Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana.

Botswana urged its young people to verify any overseas employment offers, especially those promising unusually high wages or lacking proper documentation, and warned that its capacity to assist nationals once they are in Russia is limited. Other African states have made similar warnings about Russian recruitment for the Ukraine war.