Amnesty urges end to Russia’s recruitment of Africans
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Amnesty
Amnesty International is urging African leaders to demand that Russia end the coercive or deceptive recruitment of Africans to fight in Ukraine. In an open letter published before the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, the organisation’s African sections said the practices could constitute human trafficking under international law.
Amnesty International is calling on African leaders attending the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow to ask the Russian authorities to end the coercive and deceptive recruitment of African nationals to fight in Ukraine. In an open letter published ahead of the 28 and 29 October meeting, the directors of the organisation’s African sections said that these practices amounted in many cases to human trafficking.
Amnesty is also asking the leaders to demand investigations and prosecutions against anyone involved in trafficking, including state agents or people acting with the consent of the Russian authorities. The organisation believes African governments should address the issue directly with Moscow during the summit.
In a report published on 10 September 2026, Amnesty documented the recruitment of foreign nationals by Russia through deception, coercion and the exploitation of economic hardship. The UN has also documented the forced recruitment of foreigners by the Russian army.
Amnesty’s call follows that of a Zimbabwean organisation, which urged Africa to denounce Russian recruitment for the war in Ukraine on 27 October in an appeal to African leaders.
