Yaounde urges families to contact authorities after nationals die in conflict
Yaounde, Cameroon; Russian authorities have confirmed the deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting against Ukraine, marking the first official acknowledgment by the Central African country of its citizens’ involvement in the ongoing war.
Cameroon’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday, calling on the families of the deceased to contact officials in Yaounde. A diplomatic note described the men as “military contractors of Cameroonian nationality” operating in a special military operation zone, the term Russia uses for its campaign in Ukraine.
Neither the statement nor the note detailed how the Cameroonians ended up fighting for Russia, nor the location, timing, or circumstances of their deaths. The Russian embassy in Yaounde did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In February, Ukraine reported that more than 1,700 Africans were fighting for Russia, though analysts believe the actual number is likely higher. Russian authorities have denied any illegal recruitment of African citizens.
Cameroon has historically not deployed troops abroad outside international or regional mandates and has warned citizens against participating in foreign conflicts. An internal memo from March 2025 also highlighted concerns over soldiers leaving the country to join the war in Ukraine.
Source: Reuters