Russia's military recruitment drive in Africa — Time to reassess relationship

Intelligence summary

In February 2026, a group of women stood outside Kenya's parliament in Nairobi holding photographs of their sons and brothers. One, Winnie Rose Wambui, was looking for her brother, Samuel Maina, who had left for Russia believing he had a job as a mall security guard; the last she heard was a distress voice note recorded from a forest. Winnie's story is part of a bigger effort of illegal military recruitment conducted by Russia. At least 3,000 Africans from 37 countries have been recorded figh