Cameroon has confirmed the deaths of 16 citizens who were fighting for Russia
This is according to the AP.
Cameroon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement confirming Russia’s report of the deaths of 16 Cameroonians who were fighting against Ukraine.
In the statement, which was circulated by state media on Monday evening, the foreign ministry urged the families of the deceased to contact its representatives in the capital, Yaoundé.
In a diplomatic note from Cameroon, also dated Monday and obtained by Reuters, the deceased are described as “military contractors of Cameroonian nationality” who were operating in the zone of the “special military operation” – the term Russia uses to describe the war against Ukraine.
What is known about the deceased and Cameroon’s reaction
Neither the official statement nor the diplomatic note specifies exactly how the 16 men came to be in the Russian army. Nor are any details provided regarding the place, time and circumstances of their deaths.
In February, Ukraine stated that over 1,700 Africans were fighting for Russia. At the same time, analysts, as noted by Reuters, believe that the actual figure is likely to be higher.
Furthermore, in an internal memo published in March 2025 and also obtained by Reuters, Cameroon’s defence minister expressed concern that soldiers were leaving the country to join the war in Ukraine. In the document, he instructed commanders to keep a close watch on their units.
Cameroon has also stated that it does not officially deploy troops abroad outside the scope of international or regional mandates. Separately, the authorities have warned citizens against participating in foreign conflicts.
As a reminder, 30-year-old Brazilian citizen Kevin Henrique Prilip Pereira joined the defence of Ukraine and now calls our country his home.
