South African police arrested nine foreign nationals in Johannesburg on Sunday evening after they were intercepted while preparing to board flights out of the country. The group, aged between 20 and 26, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport and a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg, by a multidisciplinary team that included Interpol officers.
Authorities say the suspects were attempting to leave South Africa to fight in the Russia‑Ukraine war, a move that contravenes South African law, which prohibits mercenary activity without government permission. The police statement noted that the involvement of Interpol and other international law‑enforcement agencies suggests the suspects may have also violated laws in their home countries.
While the suspects’ nationalities have not been disclosed, none of them were residents of South Africa. Police have not confirmed whether the group intended to fight for Russia or Ukraine, nor have they identified the organisations that allegedly facilitated their travel.
The arrest comes amid growing concerns over African nationals being recruited to fight in Ukraine. A Ukrainian intelligence assessment estimated that more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia. Kenya reported that 252 of its citizens had been illegally conscripted in Russia, and Ghana said 55 of its nationals had been killed in the conflict, with 272 believed to have been lured to fight since 2022.
South Africa has previously taken action against foreign recruitment. In December last year, authorities arrested five people, including a journalist, for allegedly recruiting others to join the war. Earlier this year, South Africa secured the return of 17 citizens who had been tricked into joining the conflict.
The nine arrested are expected to appear in court later this week. The case highlights the ongoing challenge of preventing the recruitment of foreign nationals for armed conflict and the need for international cooperation to address the issue.
Source: BBC World
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Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
