Cameroonian families wait for sons killed in Russia’s war

Families in Cameroon are being drawn into the human cost of Russia’s war in Ukraine as sons leave for the front and, in some cases, die far from home. Al Jazeera reported from Douala that one mother, identified as Mama Regina, has spent more than a year waiting for the return of her son Moses’s body.

According to Al Jazeera, Moses was fighting with Russian forces when he was killed under Ukrainian fire. His mother said he was shot while running toward trenches, and that he had left Cameroon to help support his family.

The report places his death within a broader flow of Africans to Russia’s military ranks. Ukrainian officials told Al Jazeera that almost 3,000 Africans from 35 countries are fighting alongside Russian forces, and Kyiv says organized recruitment across the continent is helping drive that number.

Recruitment claims disputed

Sergey Elidonov, described by Al Jazeera as a former Russian army officer, rejected Ukraine’s allegation that Russian cultural centers or recruitment networks are operating across African countries. He told the broadcaster that Russia offers pay and conditions, and that those who want to join find their own way there.

Elidonov said Cameroon’s role among African recruits is partly rooted in ties dating to the Soviet era. He told Al Jazeera that many Cameroonian students studied in Russia and that a Cameroonian community has existed there for decades.

He also pointed to economic pressure. In his view, people are leaving because they are trying to provide for relatives at home.

Soldiers, students and job seekers

Professor Aicha Pemboura, who has researched the issue, told Al Jazeera the movement goes beyond formal military recruitment. She said some Cameroonians heading to Russia are experienced soldiers with combat backgrounds from fights against Boko Haram, separatist groups and piracy.

Pemboura said others include students, unemployed graduates and young men who travel expecting work or education, then end up signing military contracts. She described the pattern as a new migration route, adding that it is taking soldiers, students and skilled workers away from African countries.

For families in Cameroon, the consequences are immediate. Al Jazeera reported that Mama Regina cannot hold a funeral or bury her son without his remains, leaving her waiting for confirmation in a form her community can mourn.

The war in Ukraine has often been viewed through the actions of Russia, Ukraine and Western governments. The account from Douala shows how the conflict has also reached African households through military contracts, economic hardship and unanswered questions over the dead.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.