Omanghana
Families in Cameroon held a peaceful march to the Russian Embassy in Yaoundé on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, demanding answers about relatives allegedly recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Organized by the civil society collective “Bring Back Our Sons and Brothers,” the demonstration called on Cameroonian and Russian authorities to help locate missing nationals, facilitate their return and investigate alleged deceptive recruitment networks.
Families Describe Broken Promises
Relatives say some of those involved travelled to Russia expecting civilian employment, education or training, only to find themselves serving in the military.
The collective says testimonies indicate that some recruits signed military contracts without fully understanding their terms. It is demanding an investigation into how these arrangements were made and who facilitated them.
Among the protesters was Catherine Djock, who said she had not heard from her husband for nine months. According to her account, he travelled to Russia expecting to work as a cook but was subsequently sent to the front line.
Other families described receiving reports of deaths without being able to recover their relatives’ remains, leaving them unable to establish what happened or arrange funerals.
Recruitment Figures Raise Concern
The campaign comes amid wider concerns about African nationals serving in Russian forces.
An investigation attributed to the All Eyes on Wagner collective identified at least 1,417 African recruits, with more than 300 reportedly killed.
In its public statement, the Cameroonian campaign group cited investigative estimates of 335 Cameroonians recruited between 2023 and mid-2025, including 94 reported deaths. These figures are not a comprehensive official national tally.
Russia separately notified Cameroonian authorities of the deaths of 16 Cameroonian contract soldiers. That notification does not establish the total number recruited, missing or killed during the conflict.
Calls for Joint Diplomatic Action
The collective is urging both governments to identify missing and deceased nationals, provide families with reliable information, arrange the return of remains and dismantle recruitment networks operating in Cameroon.
Organizers have described their campaign as humanitarian, peaceful and non-partisan, stressing that it is not directed against the Russian people or any state. Their stated objective is to protect Cameroonian citizens and prevent further families from experiencing similar losses.
Established in August 2026, the group has been documenting families’ accounts and seeking official assistance. Publicly available evidence remains insufficient to establish the recruitment circumstances of every individual case.
Source: Omanghana
