Countering Russia’s Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8718 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8718 To impose sanctions on foreign persons and foreign governments participating in or facilitating the recruitment of foreign nationals from African countries for the purpose of fighting in the war in Ukraine. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 7, 2026 Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Jackson of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To impose sanctions on foreign persons and foreign governments participating in or facilitating the recruitment of foreign nationals from African countries for the purpose of fighting in the war in Ukraine. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Russia's Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Russian-backed entities are working to recruit civilian and military personnel across the African continent to participate in Russia's illegal war against Ukraine. (2) The Ukrainian Government has reported that more than 1,400 citizens from 36 countries across Africa are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. (3) Africans sent to the conflict are often forced to take the most dangerous combat roles in the most dangerous areas of the conflict because Russians believe their lives are less valua