‘Golden suffering’ — grave risks for Cameroon as soldiers desert to fight in Ukraine

The desertion of soldiers to fight in Ukraine weakens the operational capacity of several African militaries and the stability of the affected countries. Cameroon’s government recently highlighted the trend which, although not new, has intensified since Russia invaded Ukraine.

A 7 March statement by Cameroon’s Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo sheds light on the “illicit involvement” of the country’s troops in the Ukraine war. A minority of deserters are “foreign volunteers” who fight for Ukraine, while most are “[Vladimir] Putin’s Tirailleurs” (riflemen) who have signed up with Russia. 

While no official statistics exist on desertion rates, the situation is concerning for a country grappling with threats from Boko Haram in the north, Central African Republic rebels in the east, maritime piracy along the coast and the Anglophone crisis in the west.

Cameroon’s desertions started in the late 2010s when many elite unit soldiers began leaving for Dubai, lured by lucrative offers to protect wealthy Emiratis. 

Read more: War in Ukraine

In 2018, indications were that between 300 and 800 soldiers had deserted. By 2020, the media reported that 637 soldiers faced dismissal due to desertion. In response, the defence minister temporarily suspended overseas missions for the military. The Ukraine conflict presents another opportunity for Cameroonian soldiers seeking better prospects.

What distinguishes this wave of desertions is that soldiers are abandoning their posts to join a high-intensity warzone. Using local networks of recruiters, Russia has attracted numerous Cameroonian soldiers. Some, interviewed by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), reported monthly salaries of XAF 1.2 million (R36 959,80 to XAF 1.5 million (R45,439.37, with specialists receiving at least XAF 2 million (R61 572,44.

These figures align with British military intelligence reports, which note a $2,000 (R37 359,09) sign-on bonus, a $2,200 (R41 094,99) monthly salary and the promise of a Russian passport. Various sources mentioned life insurance for families in the event of a soldier’s death during operations. 

These desertions are an unexpected consequence of the professionalisation of Cameroon’s army, a process initiated by a series of decrees in 2001. With the shift from conscription to a professional army, soldiers no longer serve out of pure devotion to their country. Instead, they see their military role as a livelihood, as described by renowned French sociologist and philosopher Augustin Hamon. 

This has transformed the Cameroonian military into a skilled workforce. Soldiers possess valuable technical knowledge and a strong reputation built on their experience in combatting terrorism, maritime piracy and other emerging security threats.

Professionalising the military means Cameroonian soldiers no longer need to pursue a lifelong career in the armed forces. Contracts now last three years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers. However, most soldiers are automatically re-enlisted. Many are unaware of these regulations, a senior Cameroonian army officer told ISS. 

Desertions – especially to the Russia-Ukraine war – can also be financially motivated. The salary gap between Russian and Cameroonian soldiers (and those in Africa more generally) can be huge. A second-class Cameroonian private’s basic monthly salary is XAF 51,880 ($85 or R1 587,75 ) after the first two years of service. When deployed in active zones, soldiers receive an additional monthly risk and food allowance of XAF 90,000 ($148 or R2 764,28). 

Yet Russia, for example, offers the equivalent of at least $2,000 (R37 359,09) for those deployed on the front line. One officer interviewed by ISS described these offers as a “golden suffering”.