Ethiopians queue up to volunteer for Russia's fight in Ukraine

Ethiopian men, drawn by rumours on social media, queue to register to join Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, outside the Russian embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia April 19, 2022. Picture taken April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The queues formed early each morning outside the Russian embassy in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. Drawn by rumours on social media, young men and old, many with their military records in hand, arrived with hopes of fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

What began as a trickle of volunteers swelled over two weeks to scores, two neighbourhood residents told Reuters.