On Friday, The Gambia said it was “very worried” about its citizens fighting in wars abroad. This is because several African countries allege their citizens were tricked into joining the Russian army.
Several media investigations, like one that came out earlier this month from AFP, have shown how Russia has lured men from African countries with promises of good civilian jobs, only to have them fight on the front lines in Ukraine.
The Gambian government’s communications ministry said in a statement, “The Gambian government has learned with grave concern that some Gambian citizens are traveling abroad with the intention of enlisting and participating in ongoing armed conflicts.”
It stated it has knowledge that “a number of Gambian nations have tragically lost their lives in such conflicts.”
The statement did not go into more depth or talk about the war in Ukraine.
African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are worried about what will happen to their citizens who were recruited by Moscow.
Andriy Sybiga, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, announced in November that they had found at least 1,436 nationals from 36 African nations among the Russians.
The statement went on to say, “The Government strongly urges all Gambian citizens not to travel abroad to take part in armed conflict.”
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