"We have now agreed that Kenyans shall not be enlisted through the [Russian] Ministry of Defence. There will be no further enlisting. Mudavadi added that consular services would be organised for those Kenyans requiring assistance through proper diplomatic channels."
"His excellency has conversed with us on the issue of the welfare of Kenyans who are in Russia and more specifically those who are involved in the special operation. We do not want for any reason our partnership with Russia to be defined from the lens of the special operation [in Ukraine] agenda only."
"Russia is not forcing anyone to enlist, Lavrov said. He said that Kenyan citizens had voluntarily signed contracts to fight alongside the Russian army. The Russian Defence Ministry was looking into cases that had caused concern among our Kenyan friends."
Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi announced that Russia has agreed to cease recruiting Kenyan citizens through its Ministry of Defence to fight in Ukraine. Over 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries are estimated to be fighting alongside Russian forces. Mudavadi stated that no further enlistment of Kenyans will occur and that consular services will be provided to those requiring assistance through diplomatic channels. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the Defence Ministry is investigating cases of concern to Kenya, though he maintained that recruitment was voluntary. Mudavadi emphasized that Kenya-Russia relations extend beyond the Ukraine conflict.
#kenya-russia-relations #military-recruitment #ukraine-conflict #african-soldiers #diplomatic-negotiations
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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