Africa

Botswana raises alarm as Russia recruits citizens for war against Ukraine

Botswana has reported an increase in the recruitment of its citizens for Russia’s war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on July 18, citing a statement from the country’s Foreign Ministry.

20 July, 10:56 AM

U.S. tests drone swarms to defend against large UAV attacks

U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, has completed a second successful field test of its CURTAIN CALL counter-drone system, which uses swarms of defensive drones to detect, track, and destroy both individual and coordinated UAV threats, Army Recognition reported.

9 June, 02:25 PM

Ukraine flexible on partial ceasefire models, foreign minister says

Through European mediation, Kyiv is prepared to explore negotiating a variety of partial ceasefire models with Russia, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on the sidelines of the Ukraine‑Africa forum on May 26.

27 May, 12:07 AM

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda emergency

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda has been declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization, Reuters reported on May 17.

17 May, 10:50 PM

Russia is losing its status as a key power in Africa after Mali defeat

When Russian forces were pushed from positions in the northern Malian town of Kidal in April, they lost more than territory, CNN reported, citing evidence that exposed Moscow’s covert operations and growing military footprint in Africa on May 10.

11 May, 01:02 PM

Russia’s contingent in Africa grows by 8,000 – Zelenskyy

Russia has increased its contingent in African countries by about 8,000 personnel in recent months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a briefing by foreign intelligence chief Oleh Luhovskyi on Apr. 29.

29 April, 06:03 PM

Russia's Africa Corps withdraws from Malian city amid rebel attacks

The so-called Africa Corps of the Russian Defense Ministry officially confirmed its withdrawal from the city of Kidal in northeastern Mali, Africa Corps reported on the morning of April 27.

27 April, 02:03 PM

Cameroon: 16 citizens killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Cameroon said Russia confirmed the deaths of 16 Cameroonian citizens who were fighting with Russian forces against Ukraine, Reuters reported on April 7.

8 April, 02:10 AM

Engaging with Syria can help curtail Russian influence

Developing security and economic ties with Syria will help Ukraine to curb Russian influence in the Middle East and beyond, Ukrainian officer and journalist Yuriy Matsarsky told NV Radio on April 7.

7 April, 09:37 PM

Ukraine’s military presence in Libya threatens Russian ‘shadow fleet’

Ukrainian soldiers have likely struck two Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers in the Mediterranean from bases in Libya, French broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI) wrote on April 2.

4 April, 12:47 AM

Ghana FM Ablakwa makes historic first visit to Kyiv, meets Sybiha

Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa arrived in Kyiv on his country's first-ever official visit to Ukraine, where he was met by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who called Feb. 25 a "historic day" in a post on X.

25 February, 08:50 PM

Russia bans mercenary recruitment in select countries, report says

Russian authorities have compiled a "blacklist" of countries whose citizens are barred from being recruited as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, independent Russian outlet Important Stories reported on Feb. 23.

23 February, 08:00 PM

Russia sends diplomats barred from Europe to Africa

Moscow has started reassigning diplomats, cultural workers, and other officials who are barred from working in Europe to African countries, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on Feb. 10.

10 February, 08:09 PM

Russia recruits 18,000 foreigners to fight in Ukraine—report

By the end of 2025, Russia had hired 18,000 foreign mercenaries from 128 countries to bolster its war effort against Ukraine, and an estimated 3,300 of them have been killed, The Telegraph reported on Jan. 26.

27 January, 02:23 AM

Shipping company cuts Russia operations after tanker attack

Turkish maritime shipping company Besiktas Shipping will stop all dealings with Russia after one of its oil tankers, the Mersin, was badly damaged by explosions near the coast of Senegal, Reuters reported on Dec. 2.

2 December 2025, 11:46 PM

Kenya asks for Kyiv’s help in repatriating nationals recruited by Russia

Kenyan President William Ruto asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to help secure the return of Kenyan citizens whom Russia has illegally recruited to fight in Ukraine, Ruto said in a Twitter post on Nov. 6.

7 November 2025, 11:55 PM

CCD: Russia runs global mercenary recruitment campaign

Russia is conducting a mercenary recruitment campaign across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, disguising it as “cooperation” with local governments and “security agencies,” the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council reported on Oct. 8.

9 October 2025, 09:24 AM

Kyiv condemns African diplomats visiting occupied Crimea

The Moscow-stationed ambassadors of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger making an unauthorized visit to Russia-occupied Crimea amounts to a “blatant violation” of international law, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on Sept. 22.

22 September 2025, 10:27 PM

Kremlin expands media footprint in Africa — Ukrainian intelligence

Russia is rapidly increasing its influence over Africa’s information space, using state-run media such as the TASS news agency and RT television to spread pro-Kremlin narratives, Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence reported on July 13.

13 July 2025, 03:29 PM

Travails and tribulations of Ukraine’s ‘Africa Strategy’ — opinion

Between aid to non-state actors and opening new embassies, Ukraine’s operations in Africa have not been free of drama, yet its influence in the region continues to grow.

14 March 2025, 12:46 AM

Africa

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