By Kelvin Kalua:
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) Southern Africa office has formally requested details from its sister office in Russia concerning Malawian girls reportedly trapped in Alabuga, a special economic zone and military-industrial complex manufacturing enemy drones for the war in Ukraine.
Alabuga has been the subject of multiple investigative reports detailing the controversial recruitment of young African women, including some from Malawi.
Reports indicate the “Alabuga Start” program advertised itself as offering work and study opportunities, but many recruits allegedly face harsh conditions and coercion into supporting Russia’s war effort.
HRW Response and Stance
Responding to inquiries about tracing the girls, HRW Senior Africa Researcher Idriss Ali Nassah confirmed the consultation.
“We have requested our partner office which looks into the Russian conflict with Ukraine to provide details of what you are asking for,” Nassah said.
He emphasized that HRW typically only comments on matters based on its own completed research.
Parliamentary and Domestic Action
While specific details on the Malawian girls remain sketchy, sources within Malawi’s Parliament indicate a motion is being prepared to debate the issue.
The parliamentary discussion will also focus on broader labor export agreements signed between Malawi and other countries.
A parliamentarian who spoke anonymously stressed the urgency: “We cannot keep quiet on this matter because it involves the lives of citizens. This is a serious issue and we want it to be tabled in Parliament. Those who aided their travel in the name of academic scholarships or job opportunities should be traced.”
Lilongwe-based human rights campaigner Benedicto Kondowe supports the call for tighter controls, maintaining that stronger measures are needed to protect citizens seeking opportunities abroad.
“We need a system where labour deals are conducted between governments, as we saw with the recent Malawi-Israel Labour Export Deal. This would ensure accountability, transparency, and most importantly, the safety of Malawian citizens abroad,” Kondowe said.
Regional and Diplomatic Context
Malawi’s diplomatic position is delicate. Despite voting to censure Russia at the UN over the invasion of Ukraine, the country maintains positive ties with Russia, which donated 20,000 tons of fertilizer in 2023.
Conversely, Ukraine provided 14,500 tonnes of corn in 2024 to help address food insecurity caused by El Niño.
Meanwhile, other Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries like Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa have taken the lead in tracing their citizens trapped in Alabuga, raising the possibility of repatriation through embassies and Interpol agencies.
Recruitment Scale and Details
The controversy escalated when Malawi’s Ambassador to Russia, Joeph Mpinganjira, told the media last month that his office had received requests from Russia to promote recruitment for the Alabuga project.
Further investigation by media outlets, including Bloomberg, revealed that Interpol in Botswana was investigating the “Alabuga Start” program.
The program, billed in Africa as a work-study opportunity for “ambitious young women,” has been directly linked to the production of military drones.
Reports indicate that since 2022, Alabuga Start has recruited around 350 women from over 40 countries and aimed to bring 8,500 more.
Research shows the Alabuga Special Economic Zone is dedicated to mechanical engineering and the production of Shahed kamikaze drones.
According to the Russian Investigative Outlet Protokol, the 182 African and Asian women working in the drone factory include two from Malawi, alongside others from Uganda (46), Kenya (14), Nigeria (14), South Sudan (14), Rwanda (14), Zambia (4), Ethiopia (6), Ghana (2), Mozambique (1), South Africa (6), Tanzania (4), and Zimbabwe (4).
The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), the umbrella body for Malawian rights organisations, has also engaged government authorities.
HRCC Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamnba confirmed the discussions, saying, “We have discussed this with responsible ministers, but it appears even the government is not aware that some Malawian girls are trapped in a drone-making factory.”
