New United States bill proposes sanctions against former South African President’s daughter

A new bill, introduced by United States Congressman Joe Wilson, aims to impose sanctions against those recruiting people from Africa to fight in the war in Ukraine.

Wilson, in partnership with Congressman Jonathan Jackson, introduced the bill in the House of Representatives on 7 May 2026.

The proposed piece of United States legislation is titled ‘The Countering Russia’s Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act’.

The proposed piece of United States legislation is designed to penalise entities involved in the deceptive enlistment of African citizens for the conflict in Ukraine.

These entities include any foreign person or government that participates in or facilitates recruiting African citizens to fight in the war in Ukraine.

According to the findings, Russian-backed organisations and certain local officials have misled individuals with false promises of education or employment.

These individuals are forced into combat roles or hazardous labour in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Government has reported that more than 1,400 citizens from 36 countries across Africa are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

The bill authorises the President and the Secretary of State to identify and impose rigorous economic and travel sanctions on perpetrators.

These penalties include freezing assets, restricting international loans, and revoking visas for those listed.

By implementing these measures, the legislation seeks to protect vulnerable populations and disrupt the Kremlin’s efforts to supplement its military ranks.

Under the proposed terms, these sanctions would remain in effect for five years following the bill’s enactment.

Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, named in the bill

The bill specifically mentions former South African President Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, as a target.

“The daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has been accused in multiple lawsuits,” it states.

It explained that these lawsuits include luring 17 South Africans and two Botswanan men to Russia.

They were allegedly told they would either train as bodyguards for her father’s political party or attend a personal development course.

“Accounts of recruitment in South Africa highlight that victims are regularly misled under false pretences,” the bill states.

“When they arrive in Russia, their clothes and passports are often burned, and their phones are taken away.”

“If a contract was presented upon recruitment, it is often switched for one written in Russian with the express intent of exploiting the victim for their service or labour.”

The bill added that other cases reveal that victims believed they were travelling to Moscow for advanced military training.

However, instead of receiving advanced military training, they were sent to fight on the front lines in Ukraine.

“Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine has strained the Russian military, generating a need for additional personnel to supplement the ranks,” it states.

To supplement Russia’s armed forces, unscrupulous parties are using deceptive and coerced recruitment of Africans.

“Abduction and forced recruitment of African nationals to support the Russian war machine in Ukraine likely constitutes human rights violations,” the bill states.

“It is unacceptable that some African government officials have knowingly participated in or benefited from these recruitment operations at the expense of their citizens.”