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Russia Confirms Deaths of 16 Cameroonians Fighting in Ukraine War, Yaounde Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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Cameroon has acknowledged, for the first time, that 16 of its nationals died fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Their status was described as “military contractors,” and authorities are urging families to contact Yaoundé’s foreign ministry.
Cameroon Confirms 16 Nationals Killed Fighting for Russia in Ukraine War
Cameroonian Involvement and Official Responses
Confirmation of Deaths and Government Statement
DAKAR, April 7 (Reuters) - Cameroon said Russian authorities have confirmed the deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting against Ukraine, the first time the Central African country has spoken about the involvement of its nationals in the ongoing war.
In a statement broadcast on state media on Monday evening, the foreign ministry called on the families of the dead to make contact with ministry officials in the capital city of Yaounde.
Details from Diplomatic Note
A Cameroonian diplomatic note, also dated Monday and seen by Reuters, referred to the deceased as "military contractors of Cameroonian nationality" operating in a special military operation zone, a term Russia uses to describe the war in Ukraine.
Lack of Specifics on Circumstances
Neither the statement nor the diplomatic note specified how the 16 men ended up fighting for Russia, nor did they provide details on the location, timing and circumstances of their deaths.
The Russian embassy in Yaounde did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Broader Context: African Fighters in Ukraine War
Ukraine said in February that more than 1,700 Africans were fighting for Russia, though analysts say the true figure is likely higher.
Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine.
Cameroon's Official Stance and Warnings
In an internal memo issued in March 2025 and seen by Reuters, Cameroon's defense minister expressed concern that soldiers were leaving the country to join the war in Ukraine and instructed commanding officers to closely monitor their units.
Cameroon has said it does not officially deploy troops abroad outside of international or regional mandates and has warned citizens against taking part in foreign conflicts.
(Reporting by Amindeh Blaise Atabong; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Janane Venkatraman)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia has for the first time confirmed the deaths of 16 Cameroonian nationals fighting for its forces in Ukraine, as acknowledged by Cameroon’s foreign ministry.
- •These individuals were described as “military contractors” in a diplomatic note, but key details—such as how, when, and where they were recruited, and the circumstances of their deaths—remain undisclosed.
- •This development adds to growing concern over deceptive recruitment of African nationals into Russia’s ranks—Ukraine estimates more than 1,700 Africans from 36 countries are currently fighting for Russia, with cases of recruitment via fake job offers increasingly reported across the continent.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia confirms deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting in Ukraine war, Yaounde says
1How many Cameroonians were confirmed dead fighting in Ukraine?
Cameroon said Russian authorities confirmed the deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting against Ukraine.
2What did the Cameroonian foreign ministry urge families to do?
The ministry called on families of the deceased to contact ministry officials in Yaounde.
3How does Cameroon describe the involvement of its citizens in the Ukraine war?
Cameroon referred to the deceased as 'military contractors' in the Russian 'special military operation zone.'
4Has Cameroon deployed troops to Ukraine officially?
No, Cameroon has stated it does not officially deploy troops abroad outside of international or regional mandates.
5What actions has Cameroon taken to address citizens joining foreign conflicts?
Authorities have warned citizens against joining foreign conflicts and instructed military officers to closely monitor their units.
