Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A growing number of young Africans, including Sierra Leoneans, are reportedly being recruited by the Russian mercenary group Wagner to fight in foreign conflicts, raising concerns about exploitation and misinformation targeting vulnerable populations.
Nineteen-year-old Yusuf (name withheld) is still grappling with the loss of his elder brother, who left Sierra Leone earlier this year under the promise of better opportunities abroad. According to Yusuf, his brother initially concealed the details of his journey, only revealing days before departure that he was heading to Russia to join the war effort against Ukraine.
“He told me the group was offering about $2,000 a month and that he intended to save some money before moving to another European country,” Yusuf said. Despite attempts to dissuade him, his brother proceeded with the plan.
Less than two months after his departure, the family received news of his death. They were informed that he had died of a heart attack while fleeing an ambush on the battlefield. Yusuf, however, remains doubtful about the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death.
“The explanation we received is not enough,” he said, expressing skepticism over the limited information provided.
Reports suggest that such recruitment is not isolated. The African Defence Forum has indicated that the Wagner Group has been recruiting thousands of young Africans, in some cases directly from prisons, for deployment in conflict zones such as Ukraine and Mali.
According to the Forum, recruits often undergo minimal training at facilities like the Berengo base in the Central African Republic or other Russian-operated military camps. Incentives reportedly include promises of citizenship, life insurance, and financial rewards. However, some recruits are allegedly misled with offers of construction or security jobs.
Further reports by Intelligence Online suggest that African students studying in Russian universities are also being targeted for recruitment.
While countries such as Egypt, the Central African Republic, and Mali have been identified as recruitment hotspots, Yusuf’s account points to a possible expansion of these activities into Sierra Leone and other West African nations.
The development has sparked concern among observers, who warn that economic hardship and limited opportunities may be making young people increasingly vulnerable to such recruitment networks.
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