By Binwell Thangalimodzi
Malawi and other African nations are being challenged to issue a unified condemnation of deceptive recruitment practices and the exploitation of Africans in foreign proxy wars at the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this week.
These calls from civil society leaders follow a surge in reports regarding predatory job recruitment by certain European nations.
Central to these concerns is the “Alabuga Start” program. Marketed through social media with attractive relocation packages, the program has lured young men and women from various African nations, including Malawi, with the promise of work and study in Russia.
However, the program has come under intense scrutiny for alleged human trafficking and forced labor.
Last year, the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), led by chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba, engaged Malawian government ministries to verify claims that Malawian women were being trapped in a drone-manufacturing factory in Alabuga.
“The HRCC has urged the Malawi government to expedite investigations to locate and repatriate these young women,” Mkwezalamba said. “The situation is dire, especially given the proximity of these women to military operations and drone production facilities.”
A continental crisis
Benedicto Kondowe of the National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has called on African leaders and Foreign Affairs ministers attending the summit to prioritize the plight of exploited youth.
He argued that the recruitment of Africans into foreign conflicts must be treated as a continental security crisis rather than a peripheral foreign policy issue.
“Silence or fragmented responses only normalize the exploitation of Africa’s youth under the guise of opportunity,” Kondowe warned. He argued that the summit must mandate member states to regulate recruitment agencies strictly and strengthen anti-trafficking enforcement.
“Africa must issue a united position. The summit should reinforce the AU’s frameworks on human rights and labor migration while demonstrating moral leadership in defending Africa’s sovereignty,” he added.
Recent investigative reports by the Associated Press and other international media suggest that women from Malawi and other African nations are currently working in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ)—a site reportedly used for enemy drone production.
Blantyre-based child rights activist Trevor Mbewe urged heads of state not to skirt the issue, but to summon Russian authorities for a formal explanation.
“It is unacceptable for our daughters to be coaxed into high-risk environments like Alabuga. The government must launch a full investigation and bring our girls home,” Mbewe stated.
Global context and regional silence
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the latest International Labour Organization (ILO) data, which reveals that nearly 21 million people worldwide are victims of forced labor—trapped in jobs they were deceived into and cannot leave.
While South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya have launched active investigations to trace and repatriate their citizens from Russia, Lilongwe has yet to confirm the status of four Malawians reported to be trapped in similar conditions.
Malawi’s Response
When asked for the government’s official stance on these deceptive practices, Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, George Chaponda, declined to provide a definitive statement.
“Call me when I am in Ethiopia to talk about the issue,” Chaponda told reporters.
Previously, the Minister stated that Malawi is reviewing its labor export agreements to ensure they provide robust legal protections. This review covers existing deals with Middle Eastern and Asian nations, as well as a potential agreement with Russia.
“The government aims to establish clear bilateral labor agreements to protect workers and ensure they do not face difficulties abroad,” Chaponda previously noted.
As the summit begins, Malawians and the wider African community are waiting to see if the AU will finally address these concerns.
Last year’s Russia-Africa Ministerial Conference failed to raise the matter, with Chaponda later explaining that the issue was omitted because it was not on the formal agenda.
