World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
African leaders secure Russian deals as conscript concerns go unanswered
African leaders met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Moscow and announced deals involving weapons, technology and trade.
Ethiopia was promised 12 Su-35 fighter jets, while other announcements included space technology for Tanzania and banking services for Burkina Faso and Niger.
Thousands of African men are serving in the Russian army, and many were reportedly recruited for non-military jobs before being sent to fight in Ukraine.
Families across several African countries are searching for missing relatives, and some have protested or provided DNA samples to help identify the dead.
The summit's 236-point final statement did not address the conscripts, and Putin did not raise the issue in his speeches.
The silence matters because the fate of the men has become a growing concern in African countries, while Russia and African governments announced new partnerships.
The summit ended Thursday, and the sources give no indication of further talks on the conscripts.
African leaders secured Russian pledges on military and trade projects at a summit in Moscow, but there was no visible progress on concerns about African men serving in Russia’s army.
The Kremlin said 22 African leaders attended the summit, which ended Thursday.
The announcements included fighter jets for Ethiopia and space technology for Tanzania.
The summit’s 236-point final statement did not mention African army conscripts, according to an unofficial copy seen by The Globe and Mail.
Families in several African countries have sought information about missing or dead relatives in the Russian army.
- Who
- African leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the summit.
- What
- Leaders secured Russian pledges on military and trade projects, while concerns over African conscripts in the Russian army saw no visible progress.
- When
- The two-day summit ended Thursday; the article was published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The first Russia-Africa summit was held, with more leaders attending than the latest summit.
Seventeen African leaders attended the previous Russia-Africa summit in Russia.
Families of missing or dead Zimbabweans gathered at a registry office to provide DNA samples.
Protesters in Cameroon marched to the Russian embassy to seek information about family members in the Russian army.
Uganda released documents listing missing and dead Ugandans in the Russian army.
The two-day summit in Moscow ended without mention of African army conscripts in its final statement.
- African leaders at summit
- 22, according to the Kremlin
- Summit final statement
- 236 points; no mention of African army conscripts, according to an unofficial copy
- Ethiopia
- Pledge for a dozen Su-35 fighter jets
- Tanzania
- Pledge for space technology
- Cameroon
- Government confirmed 16 Cameroonians had been killed in Ukraine
- Uganda
- Documents listed 11 dead, 16 missing and five in active service
1 source
What people are saying
For us, Africa is the continent of the future
What is the value of strategic partnerships if African citizens can be deceptively recruited into a foreign war, disappear from their families and, in some cases, die thousands of kilometres from home?