–But says no Malawians recruited or killed in war
A new report titled “The Business of Despair” has found that no Malawian nationals have been recruited or killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, which marked its fourth anniversary last week. The report was released by All Eyes on Wagner (AEOW), a French OSINT project now part of the Swiss NGO INPACT.
While Malawi appears unaffected, the report exposes a grim reality for the broader continent: Moscow has successfully recruited 1,417 African men and women to either fight on the frontlines or work in drone-manufacturing facilities.
The findings arrive as nations like South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya intensify pressure on President Vladimir Putin to repatriate their citizens following high-level diplomatic discussions with Moscow.
Central to these concerns is the “Alabuga Scheme,” a deceptive operation that uses social media to lure women aged 18–22 with fake “work-study” programs in hospitality, catering, or floristry.
Human rights and security experts have condemned the scheme as a form of human trafficking and forced labor that places young recruits in extreme danger.
Domestic Reaction: Relief and Criticism
In Malawi, interviews with residents in Blantyre, Lilongwe, and Mzuzu revealed a sense of relief, though many criticized the government’s lack of transparency on the matter.
“While it is a relief that no Malawians were killed, the government should have addressed this sooner, given it has been a global concern since 2022,” said John Mbewe, an international cross-border trader.
Jani Kasunda, an international relations scholar, noted that the Malawian government’s penchant for secrecy complicates international affairs.
“We are still waiting for an official statement, especially following reports that four citizens were previously trapped after being deceived by Russian educational scholarship agencies,” Kasunda remarked.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has remained silent despite multiple requests for comment regarding these deceptive recruitment practices.
Inside the AEOW report: “The Business of Despair”
The AEOW report provides a comprehensive database of 1,417 African recruits, detailing how men are often lured to the frontlines under pretenses.
Key statistics from the report show that of the 1,417 identified recruits, 316 have already been killed in action, and as for the mortality rate, alarmingly, 951 recruits—the vast majority of those killed—survived only one month on the battlefieldThe mostMost affected nations are Egypt (361 recruits), Cameroon (335), and Ghana (. The the average age of recruits is 31, ranging from an 18-year-old Ghanaian to a 57-year-old Egyptian.
Recruitment methods exposed
The report highlights that some recruitment agencies are directly accredited by Russian authorities, while others operate via clandestine networks.
AEOW investigators, posing as potential recruits, contacted an individual named Boris Alexandrovich Malikov, who advertised army roles in Kenyan WhatsApp groups.
It is said in the report that Malikov operated through a shell company called OneClickVisa, claiming to act on behalf of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Other methods, according to AEOW include using local African nationals to promote the Russian cause online and forcing illegal immigrants intercepted in Russia to choose between deportation or signing a military contract.
Regional crackdowns and security risks
Several African nations have begun dismantling these trafficking networks. In December 2025, South Africa disrupted a recruitment ring, leading to the trial of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla for her alleged role in facilitating recruitment for the Russian army. Meanwhile, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi has labeled the clandestine trafficking of Kenyans “unacceptable”.
In response to these global trends, Malawi has announced plans to review all labor export deals, including potential future agreements with Russia and other European nations.
Blantyre-based security expert Dr. Sherrif Kaisi warned that while labor export can be a development tool, it is ripe for abuse.
“The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Homeland Security must critically assess the risks,” Kaisi advised, noting that returnees from foreign conflict zones could eventually pose a significant threat to national security.
By Matthews Kazembe
