Cameroon Confirms 16 Nationals Died Fighting for Russia

Cameroon has officially confirmed that 16 of its citizens have died while fighting for Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. This is the first public acknowledgement by the Central African nation regarding its nationals' involvement in the war.

The foreign ministry stated that the deceased were "military contractors of Cameroonian nationality." They urged families of those lost to contact ministry officials in the capital, Yaounde. Details regarding how these men came to be fighting for Russia, or the specific circumstances and timing of their deaths, were not provided.

This confirmation comes as Ukraine reported over 1,700 Africans fighting for Russia earlier this year, though actual numbers are believed to be higher. Russian authorities have denied recruiting African citizens illegally. In March 2025, Cameroon's defense minister expressed concern about soldiers leaving the country to join the war, directing commanders to monitor their units.