South African police have arrested nine foreign nationals, aged between 20 and 26, who were allegedly preparing to fly out of the country to fight in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The suspects were picked up on Sunday evening at OR Tambo International Airport and at a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg, in an operation involving Interpol. South African law prohibits mercenary activity without government approval.
Police have not disclosed the group’s nationalities or which side they intended to join, but said none of them lived in South Africa.
The case highlights wider concern about the recruitment of Africans into the conflict. Ghana said in February that 55 of its citizens had been killed in the war, with 272 believed to have been lured to fight since 2022.
Compiled by Sweet Melodies FM from reporting by BBC News. Read the original report.
