Emmanuel Igunza

Kenya's foreign affairs minister, Musalia Mudavadi, says the government will not prosecute citizens who joined Russia's military despite laws banning enlistment in foreign armed forces without approval.

Russia and Kenya last week signed an agreement to hold further recruitment of Kenyans.

It allows those currently deployed to terminate their contracts and return home.

Officials say more than 1,000 Kenyans are known to have been recruited.

Some have been repatriated while others remain on the front lines.

Some families report Russia making dishonest and lucrative offers to recruit Kenyans for its depleted forces.

Russia maintains the enlistment were voluntary.

For NPR News, I'm Emmanuel Igunza in Nairobi, Kenya.

The U.S. State Department has urged the warring parties in South Sudan to end fresh fighting that erupted in February and so far displaced tens of thousands of people. Conflict flared up between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his first vice president, Riek Machar, threatening a 2018 peace deal. The U.S. has urged for the release of the vice president, who is under house arrest.

The U.S. State Department has urged the warring parties in South Sudan to end fresh fighting that erupted in February and so far displaced tens of thousands of people. Conflict flared up between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his first vice president, Riek Machar, threatening a 2018 peace deal. The U.S. has urged for the release of the vice president, who is under house arrest.

It also said it will not fund election preparations, which were scheduled for 2023, but have now been postponed until next year. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but descended into a civil war two years later. For NPR News, I'm Emmanuel Igunza in Nairobi, Kenya.

It also said it will not fund election preparations, which were scheduled for 2023, but have now been postponed until next year. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but descended into a civil war two years later. For NPR News, I'm Emmanuel Igunza in Nairobi, Kenya.