Africans fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war
When Russian invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the major speculation around the war were what are the reasons? How long will it last? but not many thought that it would have a direct and physical (human) repercussion on Africa. Some of the most acute effects that Africa suffered were equally felt all over the world. A vertiginous inflation that swept the whole world touched Africa too. Another main fact that is attributed to Africa is the historic gesture of the former Senegalese President Macky Sall who “pleaded” with President Putin to open the way for the circulation of grains. While people thought that he was asking for grain that could be consumed by Africans, the reality was that the grains were meant for European countries that heavily rely on the wheat produced in that part of the world. Some patriotic progressive African leaders condemned the former Senegalese Head of State for stooping so low, and showing the hegemonic impact of Western countries over several African nations, including Senegal.
A question like “what is in it for Africa” did not seem necessary, no one thought that Africa or Africans would get involved in that war in any way. The only interactions or ties of collaboration between Africa and Russia can be traced to the USSR (the Soviet Union) era, when diplomatic ties existed between Moscow and countries that espoused leftist ideology. The Marxists, Communists and Socialists opted for ties with the Eastern bloc as it was called and the Western bloc referred to Western capitalist giants like the US, UK, Germany, etc. China, North Korea and Cuba were part of the Eastern bloc, before the non-aligned front was put in place. That division “resonated with what was termed as the Cold War, the silent threat and antagonism brewing between the two poles. Each of the poles had their allies all across the world. So, African countries that had cooperation(s), with the Soviet Union stressed the following sectors in general: Training African students and professionals, especially in fields directly related to development (Medicine, Agriculture, industrial work, etc.). Military cooperation existed between Moscow and African countries where revolutionary, nationalist, and anti-imperialist ideology was at the center of national politics. Certain Southern African countries like Angola and Mozambique that were fighting an anticolonial war against Europeans who clung so tight to the “colonial booty” sought Soviet military assistance. West African states like Mali, Burkina, Guinea had both socio-economic and military links with the leader of the Eastern bloc. Many medical doctor, army officers and educationists (teachers and University professors) in those African countries trained in Russia. Although the Soviet Union is now dislocated, exchanges of various types take place between African countries and the former states of the Soviet Union. Ukraine is one of those states.
The past weeks, general opinion has been served with startling news, information that was difficult to predict, the essence of it is that African soldiers are fighting in Russia and Ukraine. Details have it that young men and woman (the large majority are men) from several African countries enlisted on one of the 2 sides of the war front. Headlines like the following are common in the media: “Africans fighting in the Russian-Ukraine war, a Sudanese young man among those fighting for Ukraine” and many others. While African nations in general have refrained from meddling in the war, individuals decided to get involved for several reasons: the search for higher income, bleak economic prospects at home, seeking greener pastures that often come with new nationalities, and religion-related factors. Some media outlets plainly pose that “The promise of high pays and even Ukrainian citizenship after the war proved tempting for many”.
Unfortunately, the socio-political and economic conditions are ripe in Africa for such an adventure. Terrorism has gotten hold of many states to such an extent that the sovereignty of the nation states and the rule of the national authorities is trampled. A country like Burkina Faso regularly broadcasts statements and partial pictures of former terrorists who were captured by the national army and converted or swore allegiance to the nation, hence proclaiming their patriotism. Such young men are learning new trades in most cases in order to be reinserted into society. It is therefore not a surprise when African youngsters in their 20s or 30s enlist in this war. No reason is so far unveiled when it comes to the exact recruitment process, but many national authorities are said to have warned their youth not to join that war. These fighters are called “soldiers of fortune”, or African mercenaries, and their numbers are about hundreds on the Ukrainian camp and around thousands in Russia.
General information has it that both Russia and Ukraine appealed for support in order to boost their manpower at a certain stage in the war. Both Ukraine and Russia are said to have recruited fighters from Africa and Ukraine, that faced a manpower shortage early in the war, made a global appeal for volunteers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is said to have appealed in 2022 to “pro-democracy nations” for support, and the outcome was that around 20,000 volunteers worldwide expressed interest in joining the fight. This call to arms apparently resonated with hundreds of Africans from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, and Algeria. These young Africans were bearing the weight of the dire straits mentioned earlier. But the reality of the war, as usual, is far from that rosy picture painted for potential recruits. News reports of captured or killed African fighters, probably with the aim of highlighting the dangers involved; they paint a really grim picture. One of the reports makes mention of an Angolan Russian soldier, whose parents are Angolan and Russian, and that could be another proof of the Russian presence in Angola few decades ago.
The impact of the Russian-Ukraine war on Africa is therefore deep, massive and complex, a reality that remained unknown for years. One of the main apprehensions that emerge here is a scenario similar the post-war Libya one. With such a long war and many nationalities and mercenaries involved, weapons easily circulate without control, and that could be a real recipe for disaster, in a geopolitical context which is already bellicose enough.
Moussa Traoré is Professor at the Department of English of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
I really enjoyed your production.
Indeed, the consequences of Russo-Ukrainian war are immeasurable for the whole world specially for African countries. When the war started, people mostly western countries’ authorities were not expected it to last, claiming for the collapse of Russia. Those authorities even did not think about long-term consequences of the war on their countries, not measuring the fact that they or to better say, the whole world to some extent depends on the wheat produced in Russia. This may be qualified as a consequence of the war on the world food security. Another sad consequence is the involving of African youth in this war, being hired by Ukraine to serve on the battlefields. One did not think about such an implication of Africa in this war. We may say that this war is very complex as Russia is not only fighting Ukraine but is mainly fighting against those bandits of NATO who are hiding behind Ukraine to justify their will of destroying Russia. These bandits after having clearly noticed that even with their support to Ukraine’s soldiers, they still have difficulties to win, do not hesitate to enrol mercenaries and soldiers from some parts of the world mostly from Africa to serve their depraved interests. This situation is a little bit like a repetition of the history of African countries during the World War II, when reminding about “les tirailleurs sénégalais”. Though it is relevant to specify that the whole African countries are not, on western countries’ influence, condemning Russia for invading Ukraine, an important question to be asked is: Being fully aware of the selfishness of western countries’ authorities since the World War II as one might remind about what they did to African soldiers after the war, what do Africans gain from involving in the Russia-Ukraine war?
In fact, African leaders have failed their citizens in the sense that,they hear and see what happens around the globe. This needs to ginger them in creating jobs for their youth. Day in and day out we hear of brain drain but what do the do? They only amass worth and leave the youth to struggle for themselves. They can put measures in place to prevent the youth from traveling for greener pastures. They don’t actually know to happens there and when they hear of that huge sums of money involve in working outside they will obviously go. So my point is the leaders can decend into every village educating the citizens with pictures of what is happening to their fellows outside,this will let people think twice before applying. Also they can put strict measures in stopping those who want to travel by giving them training to fit into any job in the country to increase output and the economy of the country.