Two Tanzanians Reportedly Killed in Russia's Army as Opposition Demands Answers

Two Tanzanians have reportedly died while serving in the Russian armed forces, according to a report published by Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen on October 19, 2026. The paper named the men as Mosha Elikunda Elibapiki, 22, and Samimik Samveli Peter, 32, and said they reportedly died in July 2025. Tanzania's opposition party ACT-Wazalendo has since called on the government to find out how its citizens are being recruited and to seek answers from Russia.

The Two Men and the Database

The Citizen said its information on the two men comes from StopRussianRecruiters.org and referred to earlier published list of 485 casualties from African countries in Russia's army that has data on the abovementioned Tanzanian nationals and list of Tanzanians who signed contracts with Russia's army.

An Earlier Case: Nemes Tarimo

The Citizen also recalled the case of Nemes Tarimo, a 37-year-old Tanzanian student who was killed in September 2022 while fighting for Russia's Wagner Group in Ukraine. The paper said he had been imprisoned in January 2021 for what were described as drug-related offences, and was lured to fight for Russia with a deal for a pardon. His family advised him not to go, but he insisted on joining to "free himself" rather than stay in prison.

Opposition: "Diplomacy Should Not Stop Answers"

ACT-Wazalendo called on the government to establish how Tanzanians are being recruited and to seek answers through diplomatic channels. The party's Deputy Secretary for Information, Publicity and Public Relations, Shangwe Ayo, said Tanzania's good relations with Russia should not stop the authorities from dealing with reports of citizens dying in the war. She urged the government to get clear information about the reported deaths and to investigate whether recruitment agents used false or misleading job offers to lure Tanzanians abroad.

Ayo also asked for public warnings about suspicious overseas job offers, stronger monitoring of recruitment agencies, and a system that lets job seekers check a job offer before they travel.

"This Is Not Normal Labour Migration"

Fulgence Massawe, Tanzanian human rights activist told The Citizen that if Tanzanians were recruited through false promises of work and then used in a foreign armed conflict, this could amount to human trafficking and deceptive recruitment. "This is not normal labour migration," he said. He pointed to Tanzania's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2008 and to international agreements the country has signed.

Massawe said the government has a legal and moral duty to investigate the reports, find out what happened, and hold anyone who did wrong to account. He also called for help from consular officials and lawyers for Tanzanians who may still be trapped in a similar situation, and for support for families looking for answers about their relatives.

Other African Countries Are Acting Too

The Citizen said similar patterns have been reported in other African countries, with promises of work in factories, farming, hospitality and logistics. It said some job seekers are reportedly handed military contracts after they arrive in Russia, raising doubts about whether all recruits understand what they sign.

In Zimbabwe, the paper said, nine people were reportedly arrested in six human trafficking investigations launched in late March, and those charged reportedly included Russian nationals and local accomplices. In Kenya, it said, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua cancelled the licences of 23 recruitment agencies over suspected irregularities.

A Safe Way Out

Tanzanians and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. See our FAQ for recommendations for victims of Russian military recruitment and their families.