By Kelvin Kalua:
Malawi is set to raise urgent concerns regarding reports of its citizens being “trapped” at a Russian military drone manufacturing facility in Alabuga during the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo, Egypt, this week from 19-20 December.
The summit, expected to focus heavily on trade, is coming amid widespread reports of human trafficking by Russia.
Recent media reports have surfaced, revealing that African men and women are being lured to Russia with promises of educational scholarships, only to be coerced into supporting the war effort against Ukraine.
Malawi, alongside Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, and Lesotho, has launched investigations to trace and repatriate its citizens.
While full details keep emerging, at least four Malawian women are reportedly being held at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone after their recruitment following promises of well-paying jobs.
The site is a military-industrial complex approximately 1,000 km east of Moscow that produces drones being used in Russia’s full scare invasion of Ukraine.
Recently, through its recruitment drive of Africans, Russia, using its mercenary group Wagner, now called Africa Corps, recruited Zambian Lemekani Nyirenda and Tanzanian Nemes Tarimo to fight at the battlefront against Ukraine, but the two men were killed a few weeks after joining the war.
And now, Alabuga, a scheme only for women aged between 18 and 22, has been the subject of several investigative reports detailing their recruitment to work in an area at a high risk of retaliatory attacks by Ukraine, which has suffered massive human and economic losses as a result of Russia’s aggression.
This controversy comes at a time when Malawi is under scrutiny for its own labour export deal with Israel, which began in 2023.
Malawi Government and Civil Society Response
Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Chaponda, confirmed his attendance at the summit, noting that he is awaiting final logistics.
“While reports of young girls being trapped in drone manufacturing companies are still reaching us as news, we hope to get clarity from Russia during this summit,” Chaponda said.
“We will hear from them regarding reports of trafficked girls under the guise of scholarships, alongside our discussions on how Africa can benefit from the partnership with Russia.”
Chaponda’s comments follow months of pressure from the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC).
Five months ago, the rights body urged the government to engage the United Nations to investigate the Alabuga reports.
HRCC Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba stated: “We have discussed this with the responsible ministers. It appears the government was initially unaware that Malawian girls were being held in a drone factory.”
Child rights campaigner Christopher Banda described the summit as a critical opportunity for accountability.
“We want our Minister to demand answers on how these girls ended up in a military facility when they were promised educational and professional opportunities,” he said.
Diplomatic Balancing Act
Malawi’s diplomatic stance remains delicate. While the country has voted to censure Russia at the UN over the invasion of Ukraine, it has maintained functional ties, notably receiving 20,000 tonnes of fertilizer from Russia in 2023.
Conversely, Ukraine provided 14,500 tonnes of corn in 2024 to help Malawi combat food insecurity caused by El Niño.
Social campaigner Benedicto Kondowe called for tighter controls on labor migration.
“We need a government-to-government system, similar to the Malawi-Israel deal, to ensure accountability and the safety of our citizens abroad,” Kondowe said.
How the ‘Alabuga Start’ Scheme Works
The “Alabuga Start” program targets young women aged 18–22 via social media, promising work-study programs in hospitality, catering, or floristry. Recruits are offered free airfare, accommodation, and competitive salaries.
However, reports indicate that upon arrival, passports are often confiscated.
The women are then moved to the factory complex and coerced into assembling military equipment under harsh conditions.
Since 2022, the program has reportedly recruited approximately 350 women from over 40 countries, with plans to bring in thousands more.
