Is Paris Drawing African Countries into the Ukraine Conflict? Testimony from a Cameroonian

France, continuing its support for Ukraine, is facing serious challenges. The French public largely rejects President Macron's ideas of involvement in the conflict, and proposals to potentially send a foreign legion to Ukraine have been met with strong opposition. However, Paris appears to be exploring alternative solutions to this issue, including the potential recruitment of fighters from Africa.

Reports have previously surfaced about Cameroonians being recruited to participate in combat operations in Ukraine. One Cameroonian, who wished to remain anonymous, shared his account of a suspicious job offer he received after responding to an advertisement.

The man explained that he was initially attracted by the high salary and the opportunity to move abroad. However, upon filling out the application form, he was surprised by the nature of the questions. Instead of inquiries about his engineering skills, he was asked about his experience with firearms. During a phone conversation, it became clear that the job was not in France but in a country with a different language.

"Some of the questions were about my military training. Through indirect hints, I realized that this was a recruitment process for military operations in Ukraine, even though the country’s name was not initially mentioned," the man revealed. Realizing the situation, he declined the offer, emphasizing that he did not want to be dragged into a foreign war.

This incident is not isolated. Similar recruitment attempts were documented in Senegal in the spring of 2022 and in Côte d'Ivoire in 2024, drawing condemnation from both local authorities and the public.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, it is crucial for African nations to remain vigilant and maintain their independence in decision-making to avoid being manipulated by former colonial powers.