SA Finds Cyan Boujee’s Latest Russian Campaign Targeting Young Women Sketchy

• South Africans were sceptical of Cyan Boujee’s latest Russian campaign and shared their concerns online
• A number of influencers, including Seemah, advertised what seemed to be a great opportunity for young women who wanted to improve their skills
• People online pointed out the many red flags of the campaign and urged young ladies to stay away, as it could be a human trafficking ring

South Africans called out influencers who were part of a Russian campaign that targeted young women from poor backgrounds.

Cyan Boujee is one of the prominent figures who advertised an opportunity for young South African women to travel abroad. Many people online pointed out the sketchiness of the campaign and warned the people of Mzansi.

The campaign encourages unemployed women aged 18 to 22 to move abroad. People had a number of unanswered questions after the influencers posted their promotional videos online.

SA sceptical of Russian programme Cyan Boujee promoted

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South Africans alleged that Mzansi influencers were part of a human trafficking ring after they visited Russia for a campaign. Cyan Boujee posted a video two days ago where she encouraged young women to apply for the Alabuga Start Programme to better themselves and their skills.

The influencer highlighted that participants would be well taken care of and would be living in a pyramid-shaped building with thousands of other women from around the world. The programme promised to teach the young ladies different languages, including Russian.

The influencers spent more time showing off the accommodation of the potential participants instead of the different careers they would be trained for. South Africans called out all influencers who promoted the programme and accused them of being sellouts.

Cyan Boujee has deleted her video on TikTok that she previously captioned:

“Kick start your career with Start Program @as_program worldprogram-start.com. Each participant of the program is guaranteed a high salary in an international company with career growth, a quick relocation, and free flight to, assistance in preparation of documents, accommodation with basic amenities, and on-the-job training.”

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The influencers flew to Russia and filmed professional videos where they viewed the accommodation and read off a script in front of a camera.

Most of them, including Seemah, have deleted their videos or closed the comments section of their posts. Seemah issued an apology in a now-viral TikTok video where she explained that she did not know much about the programme and that the backlash amazed her:

"These Russians will get us in trouble. All of this happened in February."

Watch the TikTok video below:

More on the Alabuga Start programme in Russia

According to an article published in June by DW, the Alabuga Start programme targets poor and unemployed African women and exploits them by forcing them to build war equipment such as drones. Some work in factories that expose them to dangerous chemicals while practising hard labour.

Parents of onboarded participants have complained about not being able to communicate with their daughters, as their mobile devices have been confiscated and their passports have been withheld to keep them from running away.

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“I was almost a victim”: People outraged by how 200 South Africans were lured into a trafficking ring in Asia

Other African countries like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have become more aware of the exploitive programme and have launched investigations. Interpol has also stepped in to probe whether Alabuga Start is involved in human trafficking.

SA raises concern about sketchy Russian campaign by influencers

People on social media warned young women not to apply for the programme as it had too many red flags:

@Reabetswe Masima urged:

“Guys, please, please, pleaseeee do your research. Matter of fact, don't go.”

@ntsako was not sold:

“The documentary is going to be wild.”

@Cher asked:

“My problem is that there is no mention of A CAREER IN WHAT EXACTLY. Everything mentioned but that. We are working, doing what?”

@user749020 highlighted:

“The vague description of what the programme is about is a red flag. Don’t go.”

@Kayla Shmayla©DE wondered:

“Who has actually been in this programme besides those who are promoting it?”

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@jokerOO pointed out:

“The participants look like victims.”

@Amahle_ ndlel: highlighted:

“The dark circles around the participants' eyes? What are they doing to these people?”

@zee asked:

“My main question is why African girls, not Russian girls? I mean, if the job is legit, why not promote people from your country first before looking at other countries?”

@YME wondered:

“They start careers in what and become specialists in what exactly?”

@Welli said:

“This is how human trafficking begins.”

@Iminathi_H &mom asked:

“Why is no one outside?”

@fifi moist wrote:

“Ladies aged 18 to 22 are still trying to figure out their lives, though do what is their reason for that age? A lot of our unemployed ladies are between 18 to 35. I'd like to be corrected if I'm wrong for saying this.”

3 More kidnapping incidents reported by Briefly News

• The high rate of unemployment in South Africa has become a large contributing factor in the luring of nearly 200 people to Asia.
• A young South African woman from Johannesburg shared how a Boko Haram syndicate had followed her since 2019.
• A young South African woman stunned the country when she shared the story of being kidnapped in a public area in Gauteng.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News