E/Guinea man returns home after being forced to serve in Russian army

A young man from Equatorial Guinea, Daniel Angel Masie Nchama, has safely returned to his home country after a harrowing experience of being tricked into military service in Russia and subsequently fighting in Ukraine. Nchama had left his home in December 2025, believing he was traveling to Russia for bodyguard training. He was recruited by a Cameroonian living in Russia who promised him a bodyguard position. After a brief period in Russia, including 45 days and two months of training in Murmansk, he was unexpectedly transferred to a Russian military base in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, a known combat zone, without his agreement. Upon his return, he was greeted by his parents at Malabo airport, expressing his relief to be back. The incident highlights a disturbing trend of African nationals being lured to Russia under false pretenses. An organization called the All Eyes on Wagner collective previously published a list of 1,417 Africans recruited by Moscow between January 2023 and September 2025 to fight in Ukraine, with over 300 reportedly dying in the conflict. The government of Equatorial Guinea has publicly committed to dismantling the trafficking networks responsible for deceiving and exploiting young African men.

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It’s great to be back in the country.