South Africa Arrests Nine Foreigners Over Alleged Ukraine War Recruitment

Nine foreign nationals have been arrested in Johannesburg for allegedly attempting to travel from South Africa to join the Russia-Ukraine war, in violation of the country’s laws against unauthorised mercenary activities.

South African authorities have arrested nine foreign nationals suspected of attempting to travel abroad to participate in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 26, were apprehended in Johannesburg during a coordinated security operation involving Interpol and other law enforcement agencies.

According to the South African Police Service, the arrests took place on Sunday evening at OR Tambo International Airport and a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg, as the suspects were allegedly preparing to board flights out of the country. Their intended destination and which side of the conflict they planned to join remain undisclosed.

The suspects are accused of violating South African laws prohibiting individuals from engaging in mercenary activities without government authorisation.

Police also indicated that international law enforcement agencies were involved because the suspects allegedly violated laws in their respective home countries. Authorities have not disclosed their nationalities or identified the organisations suspected of facilitating their travel.

The arrests come amid growing concerns over the recruitment of African nationals into the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A Ukrainian intelligence assessment estimated earlier this year that more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries had been recruited to fight for Russia.

Kenya previously estimated that 252 of its citizens had been illegally conscripted, while Ghana reported that 55 of its nationals had died in the conflict, with another 272 believed to have been lured into fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

South Africa has also dealt with similar cases. In February, authorities secured the return of 17 South Africans allegedly tricked into joining the conflict. Five people, including a journalist, were arrested in December last year over alleged recruitment activities linked to the war.