Yaounde: Ukrainian authorities have released photos of two Cameroonian men, Onana Jean Parfaot Mitugina and Anatole Frank Mbala, captured in Ukraine while fighting for the Russian forces. Both men, born in 1999, have been held by Ukrainian authorities since May 2025, Cameroon News Agency (CNA) reports. Despite this development, Cameroonian authorities have largely remained silent on the recruitment of its citizens by Russia, only acknowledging the deaths of 16 Cameroonians in April 2026.
According to Cameroon News Agency, a prominent Cameroonian journalist, the tepid response from Cameroonian authorities can be attributed to the fact that these two individuals are just a small fraction compared to the over 4,000 Russian prisoners of war held by Ukraine. Bayen suggests that the responsibility for these Cameroonian fighters lies more with Cameroon than Russia, as they are being used as mercenaries by Russia, often without consent.
Professor Victor Julius Ngoh, a renowned Cameroonian historian, highlights the diplomatic ties between Cameroon and Russia, noting that the Cameroonian government is aware of the recruitment. He attributes the involvement of Cameroonian youths in the conflict to high unemployment and a deteriorating politico-socio-economic environment, which places the government in a difficult position. Ngoh emphasizes the government's silence despite the open secret of Cameroonian lives being lost in a war they barely understand.
The international coalition of investigative reporters, INPACT, reported in February that over 100 Cameroonians have died on the frontlines, the highest casualty rate among African nations. There are indications that these recruits might be deceived into joining the Russian army, as seen in the cases of Dongmo Brice and Onana Moise, who were misled by recruiting agents and ended up on the frontlines.
StopRussianRecruiters.org, a website focused on Russian recruitment practices, highlights the case of Mevoungu Mbe Stevys Astride, a 19-year-old Cameroonian footballer who was allegedly deceived into military service. The organization estimates over 28,000 foreigners in the Russian army, with more than 5,000 foreign recruits having died in the conflict.
Despite attending an International Security Forum in Moscow, Cameroon's ambassador to Russia, Paba Sale, has not publicly addressed the issue of Cameroonians involved in the Russian and Ukrainian armies. As the silence continues from Yaounde, families of the deceased struggle for justice and closure, while the Cameroonian government faces increasing pressure to address the human cost of its citizens' involvement in the war.