Botswana warns of rising coercion of its citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine

Botswana's Ministry of International Relations has issued a statement warning citizens about the growing risk of being drawn into Russia's military operations in Ukraine. In a statement released on July 18, the ministry urged Botswana citizens to carefully vet job offers abroad, as many are lured under false pretenses and later coerced into participating in combat missions against Ukraine.

The ministry noted that the number of such cases is “rising at an alarming rate.” It also reported receiving distress calls from Botswana nationals already on the battlefield, describing the dangerous conditions they face.

Bloomberg reports that individuals involved in recruiting Africans to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine have been arrested and prosecuted in Kenya and South Africa. In February, a report by the nonprofit Inpact, which runs the All Eyes On Wagner program, stated that at least 316 Africans have been killed fighting against Ukraine, many with minimal military training. Kenya has said around 1,000 of its citizens have been recruited.