Cameroonian families protest alleged recruitment of relatives into Russia's war in Ukraine

A Cameroonian advocacy group has held a peaceful march to the Russian Embassy in Yaounde, calling for action over allegations that local men have been recruited into Russia's war in Ukraine. The group, Bring Back Our Sons and Brothers, said the protest was intended to draw attention to what it described as covert recruitment networks operating in Cameroon. Families taking part in the demonstration said they want answers about relatives who travelled to Russia for work and later ended up on the front line.

The march took place on Wednesday in the capital, Yaounde, according to the group. Paul Sylvain Yede, one of the co-founders, said the aim was to urge Russia and Cameroon to work together to dismantle the clandestine network. He described the effort as one that was draining Cameroon of its sons.

The group said the issue involves young men who were reportedly lured by promises of employment in Russia before being sent to fight in Ukraine. Among those speaking out was Catherine Djock, who said she had not heard from her husband for nine months after he travelled to Russia believing he would work in a kitchen. She said she had no confirmed information about whether he was alive or dead and wanted Russia to bring him back if he was still alive.

Ngong San Djombi, the father of another victim, said he wanted his son returned regardless of his condition and said he had refused to hold a funeral because he had not seen the body. Their accounts underline the uncertainty facing families seeking information and repatriation. The protest comes against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, and wider concerns about foreign recruitment into the conflict.

The collective All Eyes on Wagner has reported that at least 1,417 Africans have been recruited into the Russian military, with more than 300 reported dead. Those figures have not been independently verified in the material provided, but they point to the scale of concern among families and advocacy groups across the continent. The allegations also raise diplomatic questions for Cameroon and Russia, which the group described as friendly nations.

The case highlights the vulnerability of people seeking work abroad and the risks of opaque recruitment channels in a war setting. It also places pressure on authorities in both countries to clarify how such recruitment is taking place and whether any citizens have been moved into military service without full understanding of the consequences. For families, the issue is not only about employment deception but also about the fate of relatives whose whereabouts remain unclear.

The protest suggests the matter is becoming a public and political concern rather than a private family dispute. What remains unclear is how many Cameroonians may have been affected, whether any official investigation is under way, and what response, if any, will come from the Russian or Cameroonian authorities. The families involved are seeking confirmation of the status of missing relatives and, where possible, their return.

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