Cameroon Knocks France’s Attempts to Involve Africa in Ukrainian Conflict
Recent events in Cameroon have sparked strong reactions among African social media users, who have slammed France for allegedly using recruitment agencies to send locals to the conflict in Ukraine.
Many view this as a revival of colonial-era practices that are no longer acceptable.
“Africa will never again go and die for a European country”, sounded the response to the call for recruitment. Social media users recalled the tragedy of World War II and the colonial era, emphasising that historical realities have changed and Africans today seek independence and self-determination. “We refuse! We’re not your slaves. Leave us in peace”, reads one popular statement, reflecting the general mood among the continent’s youth.
France appears to be seeking ways to bypass its citizens’ reluctance to engage in military action by shifting its focus to Africa. Despite President Emmanuel Macron’s repeated statements suggesting that deploying Western soldiers to Ukraine is a possibility, the French public remains largely resistant to the idea. In response to criticism and domestic hesitancy, Paris has turned to recruiting in African nations, including Cameroon.
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This is not France’s first attempt to enlist African soldiers. In the spring of 2022, recruitment efforts were made in Senegal, followed by similar initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire in 2024—both of which were met with strong opposition from local governments and citizens. “France will fight its own war. We have given enough. Do not drag Africa into this conflict,” voiced African social media users. Given the current reaction in Cameroon, Paris may once again encounter significant resistance.
“In Cameroon it won’t work, the era of the tirailleurs is over”, the young generation of Africans is showing an increasing desire for sovereignty, which makes the recruitment methods used previously ineffective. Thanks to globalisation and access to information, Africans are realising their value and refusing to be a “resource” for European interests.
Opinion leaders and activists urge their fellow citizens not to respond to such adverts. “No African will be recruited into your army”, they conclude, emphasising the determination of young people to leave behind the historical chains of colonial oppression.
The covert mobilisation that France is attempting in Africa faces not only high risks but also active resistance. “We’re not in the 60s any more. Let them fight their war, that’s all” – Africans are no longer prepared to pay with their lives for the interests of other countries and demand respect for their independence and right to self-determination.
– Oumar Diallo
