Nine foreigners caught allegedly trying to leave South Africa to fight in Ukraine

ByKhanyisile Ngcobo and Nobuhle Simelane, Reporting fromJohannesburg.

Key points

• A Ukrainian intelligence assessment estimated earlier this year that more than 1, 700 individuals from 36 countries in Africa have been recruited to fight for Russia.
• The group, aged between 20 and 26, were arrested in and around Johannesburg by a multidisciplinary team on Sunday evening.
• The same month, South Africa secured the return of 17 South Africans who were allegedly tricked into joining the war.
• Police remarked the group were arrested at South Africa's biggest airport, OR Tambo, and a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg by a multidisciplinary team that involved Interpol.
• Kenya at the time estimated that 252 citizens had been illegally conscripted in Russia.

Nine foreigners have been arrested in South Africa after they were caught allegedly trying to leave the country to fight in the war between Russia and the Ukraine, police say.

For context, the group, aged between 20 and 26, were arrested in and around Johannesburg by a multidisciplinary team on Sunday evening.

They were caught as they were "preparing to board flights out of the country", authorities continued, but their final destination is unclear.

In practice, the group is accused of contravening South Africa's laws. It outlaw mercenary activity without administration permission.

Meanwhile, the police statement continued that the involvement of Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies indicated that the suspects had additionally allegedly violated laws in their respective home countries, prompting cooperation with South African authorities.

Authorities declined to disclose the group's nationalities but confirmed that none of them resided in South Africa.

They have additionally not stated whether the group allegedly intended to fight for Russia or Ukraine nor provided details of the organisations allegedly involved in facilitating their travel.

Citizens of a number of African countries, including Kenya, Ghana and South Africa, have gone to fight for Russia in Ukraine – some they had been duped and had not realised where they were going.

For context, a Ukrainian intelligence assessment estimated earlier this year that more than 1, 700 individuals from 36 countries in Africa have been recruited to fight for Russia.

Kenya at the time estimated that 252 citizens had been illegally conscripted in Russia. In March, Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi visited Moscow to address the matter.

He remarked at the time that an agreement had been reached to stop recruiting Kenyan nationals.

In February, Ghana remarked that 55 of its citizens had been killed in the conflict, with 272 believed to have been lured to fight since the war kicked off in 2022.

In practice, the same month, South Africa secured the return of 17 South Africans who were allegedly tricked into joining the war.

In December last year, South African authorities arrested five individuals, including a journalist, for allegedly recruiting residents to join the war. Ukraine has additionally been recruiting foreign nationals, including from Africa.

For context, the nine arrested are projected to appear in court either afterwards on Monday or Tuesday. You may additionally be interested in.

Lured by lucrative job offers and sent to fight for Russia – Kenyans want their sons back.

'I'm Kenyan, don't shoot' – the athlete who notes he was duped into the Russian army.

'My skin was peeling' – the African women tricked into making Russian drones.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Taken together, the developments around nine foreigners caught allegedly trying to leave South Africa to fight in point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.