Botswanahas cautioned its citizens against a rising trend of bogus international recruiting schemes, which have allegedly led to some people joining Russia’s conflict against Ukraine.
Putin with African leaders and heads of delegations at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg on July 28.ALEXEY DANICHEV/POOL/AFP
- Botswana has warned its citizens about fake international job offers leading to forced recruitment in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
- The Ministry of International Relations reported a surge in distress calls from Batswana deceived into joining the conflict after being lured by fraudulent work opportunities.
- A recent study highlighted that over 1,400 Africans, including Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans, Ugandans, and South Africans, were recruited for Russia’s war, with many dying in combat.
- Kenyan authorities confirmed at least 252 nationals were illegally conscripted, with some killed or injured, and reminded citizens such actions are criminal offenses.
Botswana’s Ministry of International Relations relayedincreasing number of distress calls from individuals who allege they were duped into accepting offers of work overseas before being forced to fight
DON’T MISS THIS: With diamond losing its shine, Botswana is set to explore other ‘critical’ options
As seen on Bloomberg, the ministry advised Batswana to thoroughly check employment offers before flying abroad, saying that criminal networks are abusing job seekers through fraudulent recruiting operations.
“The number of Batswana being misled into such arrangements is rising at an alarming rate,” according to the Ministry, which said it “continues to receive heartbreaking calls from Batswana already on the front line, describing the perilous conditions they face.”
According to the authorities, the number of civilians falling prey to these scams has increased dramatically, with many already trapped in perilous fighting scenarios.
Botswana’s warning comes amid growing worries that African people are being recruited into Russia’s military effort.
A study conducted in April by the nonprofit organization INPACT through its All Eyes on Wagner initiative claimed that more than 1,400 Africans from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa were recruited between 2023 and 2025.
The research indicated that at least 316 of the recruits perished during the fighting.
Per the report, many recruits were first drawn to offers of scholarships, jobs, or vocational training.
However, upon arrival in Russia or Russian-controlled territory, others were allegedly persuaded or blackmailed into military duty.
These results contradict prior comments by Russian officials.
In late 2025, Russian ambassador Natalia Krasovskaya informed reporters in Ghana that African students in Russia were purely concerned with their education and not participating in military actions.
Andrey Podyelyshev, Russia’s ambassador to Nigeria, likewise disputed previous accusations that Nigerians had been recruited to fight in Ukraine.
In April, following concerns that Kenyan nationals had been lured into the fighting, Nairobi coordinated efforts to ensure the release of those impacted.
In the same month, Kenya’s Foreign Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, also reminded parliamentarians that Kenyan residents cannot serve in foreign military services without government clearance.
Joining a foreign military without authorization is a criminal offense in Kenya that can result in up to ten years in jail.
According to the foreign secretary, those enlisted signed contracts that offered Russian citizenship and sign-on bonuses of up to 3 million shillings ($23,000).
Kenya’s foreign ministry in March revealed that as many as 252 Kenyans had been illegally conscripted into Russia’s military operations, with at least 10 Kenyans feared dead and 38 injured.
Authorities also cautioned that any Kenyan who actively joins a foreign conflict might face legal ramifications upon return home.
The mounting revelations have raised fears that vulnerable job seekers across Africa are being targeted by misleading recruiting networks related to the continuing conflict.
