Russia Confirms Deaths of 16 Cameroonians Fighting in Ukraine War
Cameroon’s foreign ministry confirms first public acknowledgement of nationals’ involvement in conflict; families urged to contact officials
DAKAR — April 7, 2026 — Cameroon said on Monday, April 6, that Russian authorities have confirmed the deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting against Ukraine, marking the first time the Central African country has publicly acknowledged the involvement of its nationals in the ongoing war.
In a statement broadcast on state media on Monday evening, Cameroon’s foreign ministry called on the families of the deceased to make contact with ministry officials in the capital city of Yaounde, according to Reuters . A Cameroonian diplomatic note, also dated Monday and seen by Reuters, referred to the deceased as “military contractors of Cameroonian nationality” operating in a “special military operation zone” — the term Russia uses to describe the war in Ukraine .
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The confirmation followed a note from the Russian Embassy in Yaounde, received on March 5, which informed the ministry of the deaths and provided a list of names, according to local media reports .
No Details on Circumstances
Neither the statement nor the diplomatic note specified how the 16 men ended up fighting for Russia, nor did they provide details on the location, timing and circumstances of their deaths . The Russian embassy in Yaounde did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment .
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Larger Toll Reported by Independent Research
While the official death toll stands at 16, independent investigations suggest the actual number of Cameroonian casualties could be significantly higher.
A February 2026 report by the Geneva-based research group INPACT (All Eyes on Wagner) documented that at least 94 Cameroonians have been killed fighting for Russia, with Cameroon recording the highest death toll among African nations involved in the conflict . The report estimated around 335 Cameroonian fighters among over 1,400 Africans recruited by Russia .
Another analysis by the Cameroon News Agency, citing open-source investigations, estimated nearly 200 Cameroonian deaths in Russia, identifying specific families who have lost loved ones in the conflict .
Growing African Involvement in the War
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in February that more than 1,700 Africans were fighting for Russia, though analysts say the true figure is likely higher . In November 2025, a figure of more than 1,400 fighters from 36 African countries was reported, many of whom are now prisoners of war .
The Russian government has denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine, maintaining that those on the front lines signed contracts voluntarily .
Economic Drivers and Deceptive Recruitment
Economic hardship and promises of high pay are often cited as factors driving such recruitment. According to the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies, Russia offers salaries as high as $3,294 (approximately 2 million Cameroonian CFA), which is six times higher than the average Cameroonian earns . This financial incentive, combined with high unemployment and economic desperation in many African countries, has made recruitment for the Russian military appealing to many .
However, numerous reports have documented deceptive recruitment practices. In Kenya, an intelligence report presented to parliament estimated that more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia after being misled with false promises of jobs and skills training before being sent to the front lines .
Cameroon’s government has also expressed concern about soldiers leaving the country to join the war. In an internal memo issued in March 2025 and seen by Reuters, Cameroon’s defense minister expressed concern that soldiers were deserting their posts to join the war in Ukraine and instructed commanding officers to closely monitor their units .
Government Response and Legal Concerns
Cameroon has repeatedly stated that it does not officially deploy troops abroad except under international or regional mandates and has warned citizens against participating in foreign conflicts .
Human rights experts have raised concerns about the legal obligations of African governments to protect their nationals abroad. Barrister Agbor Balla, a Cameroonian human rights lawyer, cited several international documents that obligate Cameroonian authorities to protect their citizens, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons .
“Cameroon has positive obligations under international and regional human-rights law to protect its nationals, including outside its territory when there is foreseeable harm,” Balla told the Cameroon News Agency .
Regional Response
Other African nations have begun taking action in response to the recruitment of their citizens. In March, Kenya stated that Russia agreed to stop recruiting its citizens after more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited, according to Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi . Mudavadi traveled to Moscow where he reportedly agreed with Russian officials that Kenyans would no longer be eligible to sign up to fight in the war in Ukraine .
Ugandan authorities have also stated that employment agencies are exploiting youth unemployment and overseas employment programs to recruit citizens for the Russian military .
Families Left in the Dark
According to the INPACT report, unlike Russian soldiers whose families receive significant government compensation, the families of fallen African recruits receive nothing and are left with no information . Families of Cameroonians who have died in the conflict have shared stories of loved ones who traveled to Russia seeking better economic opportunities, only to end up on the front lines and later be reported missing or deceased .
A Cameroonian diplomatic note seen by Reuters stated that “necessary arrangements” were being made to inform the families of those who died . In a separate communication, the ministry also invited the relatives of six other Cameroonian nationals residing in Russia to attend a meeting regarding “urgent matters,” though no further details were provided .
SOURCES / INPUTS
Interfax-Ukraine: Russia’s war in Ukraine kills 16 Cameroonian citizens – media
Polskie Radio: Russia confirms deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting in Ukraine war: report
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