Russia confirms deaths of 16 Cameroonians fighting in Ukraine war

Cameroon confirms 16 nationals died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, marking the country's first acknowledgment of such involvement.

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 (April 6, 2026), the foreign ministry called on the ‌families of the dead to make contact with ministry officials in the ‌capital city of Yaounde.

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.

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.

Ukraine said in February that ‌more than 1,700 Africans were fighting for Russia, though analysts say the true figure is likely higher.