// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Nine foreigners caught allegedly trying to leave South Africa to fight in Ukraine
Hundreds of African citizens have been recruited to join the Russia-Ukraine war in recent years (file photo)
Nine foreigners have been arrested in South Africa after they were caught allegedly trying to leave the country to fight in the war between Russia and the Ukraine, police say.
The group, aged between 20 and 26, were arrested in and around Johannesburg by a multidisciplinary team on Sunday evening.
They were caught as they were "preparing to board flights out of the country", authorities added, but their final destination is unclear.
The group is accused of contravening South Africa's laws, which outlaw mercenary activity without government permission.
Police said the group were arrested at South Africa's biggest airport, OR Tambo, and a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg by a multidisciplinary team that involved Interpol.
The police statement added that the involvement of Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies indicated that the suspects had also allegedly violated laws in their respective home countries, prompting cooperation with South African authorities.
Authorities declined to disclose the group's nationalities but confirmed that none of them resided in South Africa.
They have also not said whether the group allegedly intended to fight for Russia or Ukraine nor provided details of the organisations allegedly involved in facilitating their travel.
Citizens of several African countries, including Kenya, Ghana and South Africa, have gone to fight for Russia in Ukraine - some they had been duped and had not realised where they were going.