Recent events in Cameroon have provoked strong reactions among African social media users who have condemned France’s alleged attempts to recruit through recruitment agencies to send locals to the conflict zone in Ukraine. Users saw it as an attempt to bring back old practices of the colonial past that are no longer accepted.
“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 seems to be trying to circumvent the reluctance of its citizens to participate in military action and is now turning its eyes to Africa. Despite President Emmanuel Macron’s repeated assurances that sending Western soldiers to Ukraine is possible, French society has taken these words to heart. In response to criticism and the reluctance of its citizens to participate in the conflict, Paris decided to focus on recruiting in African countries, including Cameroon.
This is not the first time France has tried to recruit Africans into military service. Back in the spring of 2022, recruitment attempts were made in Senegal and in 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire. Both initiatives faced strong condemnation from local authorities and citizens alike. “France will wage its war alone. We have given enough. Do not involve Africa in this conflict” – African users have spoken out. Judging by the current reaction in Cameroon, Paris may face similar difficulties this time around.
“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