Russia confirms deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting in Ukraine war: report
Cameroon says Russian authorities have confirmed the deaths of 16 of its citizens who were fighting in the war in Ukraine, according to reports on Tuesday, the first time the Central African nation has publicly addressed the involvement of its nationals in the conflict.
Photo:EPA/PRESS SERVICE OF THE 24 MECHANIZED BRIGADE via PAP
In a statement broadcast on state media on Monday evening, Cameroon’s foreign ministry called on the families of the deceased to contact officials in the capital Yaoundé, the Reuters news agency reported.
It said a Cameroonian diplomatic note described the dead as "military contractors of Cameroonian nationality" operating in a "special military operation" zone, the term Russia uses for the war in Ukraine.
Neither the statement nor the diplomatic note explained how the men came to fight for Russia or provided details on the location, timing or circumstances of their deaths, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in February that more than 1,700 Africans were fighting on Russia’s side, adding that Moscow was using deception to recruit them.
Russian authorities deny illegally recruiting African citizens for the war.
Cameroon has said it does not deploy troops abroad outside international or regional mandates and has warned its citizens against participating in foreign conflicts, Reuters reported.
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Source: Reuters