Sixteen Cameroonians have been killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, the BBC has confirmed after a foreign ministry source verified that a recently leaked diplomatic note circulating on social media about the deaths was authentic.
The government has faced criticism over its prolonged silence on the issue - and this marks the first recognition of the involvement of its nationals in the conflict.
A recent report by All Eyes on Wagner, a group that investigates mercenary activities worldwide, said 94 Cameroonians had died in the war between 2023 and 2025.
The leaked note - from the Cameroon's foreign ministry to the Russian embassy - describes the 16 who had died as "military contractors".
Attempts to contact the Russian embassy about the note, which was dated 5 March, were unsuccessful.
