The Togolese government has raised concerns following reports of its citizens being captured and detained by Ukrainian armed forces. The individuals in question are believed to have participated in military operations alongside Russian armed forces, according to a statement from the country’s foreign ministry.
The ministry highlighted that many of these individuals, particularly young students, left Togo under the guise of scholarships purportedly offered by organizations claiming to be based in Russia. In light of these developments, the ministry has urged citizens—especially youth considering studying abroad—to exercise heightened caution. It emphasized the importance of verifying the legitimacy of scholarship offers and encouraged individuals to reach out to relevant authorities for reliable information before committing to travel, especially to Russia.
This warning follows alarming reports from March, when Togo’s leading human rights organization, the Martin Luther King Movement (MMLK), alerted officials about a Togolese student who had been captured on the battlefield and subsequently imprisoned in Ukraine. MMLK detailed the student’s journey, noting that he had obtained a study visa through the Russian embassy in Cotonou and traveled to Russia in August 2024. Upon arrival, he was allegedly coerced into military service, ultimately finding himself injured, captured, and imprisoned in Ukraine.
Reports over the past few months have also highlighted similar incidents involving African nationals, many of whom are students or former prisoners, from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Benin. These individuals have been reported to be fighting alongside Russian forces on the Ukrainian front, raising serious concerns about the recruitment of foreign nationals into conflict zones under dubious circumstances.
The Togolese government’s call for vigilance serves as a critical reminder for students and aspiring scholars to thoroughly investigate potential study opportunities abroad, particularly in regions experiencing conflict.
