Hundreds of volunteers queue up in Ethiopia to fight for Russia

Volunteers crowded outside Russia’s embassy in Addis Ababa after reports swept the Ethiopian capital that it was recruiting fighters for the war in Ukraine.

Officials, denying Moscow was seeking applications, said the hundreds-strong throng was “another manifestation of the unbreakable bonds of brotherly friendship and mutual support between the two peoples”.

The two-day gathering of lean young men, whether motivated by ideology or the prospect of an income, coincided with intelligence reports that neighbouring Eritrea was preparing to send 5,000 conscripts to boost Russia’s ranks.

Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, visited Eritrea’s president, Isaias Afwerki, in Asmara shortly before the invasion of Ukraine, according to western sources. Since conscription to serve in Eritrea’s military and civilian workforce is mandatory and indefinite —  there is no shortage of numbers or experience.

Eritrea’s soldiers have fought alongside Ethiopian troops, and been accused of committing a string of atrocities, in the 18-month civil war in the northern region of Tigray in Ethiopia, where the leadership is a common enemy of both capitals.

Long ostracised as a pariah state by the West, Eritrea cast one of only five votes, with Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Russia itself, against last month’s UN resolution condemning Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine. Ethiopia’s failure to take part in the vote was viewed as tacit backing for President Putin.

Eight African no-shows for the vote, plus 17 abstentions, including South Africa, which surprised many, reflected Moscow’s growing sway on the continent, analysts said.

Half of Africa’s military imports come from Russia — up from 20 per cent only five years ago — with Ethiopia one of its biggest customers. Russia has also stepped up its supply of mercenaries to chaotic states including Mali, Sudan and the Central African Republic, where leaders are unpopular or illegitimate and in fear of being ousted.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky, keen for the continent to switch sides, has approached President Sall of Senegal, head of the African Union, to address the bloc. His request was “noted”, Sall said.

Though Eritrea’s population is just four million, the misery of daily life under an indefinite state of emergency has driven at least 5,000 asylum seekers to Europe every year for a decade, rising to 30,000 in 2015 and 2016. Most applications were successful.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after a 30 year-guerilla war. The two sides went to war again over their border, from 1998 to 2000, after Ethiopia refused to abide by an international ruling.