The recent evacuation of Tim Kennedy, a former U.S. Green Beret and mixed martial artist, after he was wounded in a firefight in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has shed light on the expanding role of American military contractor Erik Prince in the region. Kennedy was shot multiple times during fighting against the M23 rebel group, a Rwanda-backed militia engaged in ongoing conflict with Congolese government forces.
An elite New Zealand ex-special forces soldier, Justin Congalien, was also killed during the clashes in Congo’s eastern highlands, according to multiple sources familiar with the operations. Both men were employed by companies linked to Prince, the founder of the private military firm Blackwater Worldwide. Currently, Prince’s company, Vectus Global, leads efforts in Congo providing security and mining sector support under a contract signed in late 2024 with President Félix Tshisekedi’s government. The five-year agreement is reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, although exact payments remain unclear.
Prince’s involvement includes deploying mercenaries, supplying drones, and assisting the Congolese government against M23 fighters. His personnel are based around Kalemie, near Lake Tanganyika, where drone strikes and ground operations have attempted to stem the rebel advance. Beyond military support, Prince’s companies have expanded into taxation efforts aimed at recovering revenue lost through widespread fraud in Congo’s mining sector. A former French Foreign Legion soldier is leading this initiative from Kinshasa, seeking to digitize records and combat corruption involving criminal syndicates, including Chinese mining firms.
Despite these efforts, the conflict remains intense. In early September, fighting escalated in the Minembwe Highlands, resulting in multiple casualties among foreign contractors, including Colombians and the New Zealand special operations veteran. Following the ambush in which Kennedy was wounded, he was evacuated first to Burundi, then to South Africa for medical treatment, before being flown to the United States to recover at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. New Zealand’s foreign ministry confirmed support related to Congalien’s death but provided no further comment.
Prince’s presence in Congo parallels the Trump administration’s strategic interest in countering China’s dominance over minerals like cobalt by promoting American mining access. A U.S.-Congo agreement signed in late 2023 has been described by some Congolese officials as a “peace for minerals” deal. However, Prince operates as an independent contractor without official U.S. government backing, despite his political connections, including previous donations to former President Trump’s campaign and family ties to the former Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.
Observers highlight a history of operational setbacks for Prince in Africa. His ventures in Libya and Somalia faced difficulties and accusations, including alleged violations of arms embargoes. Critics argue that hiring private mercenaries reveals weaknesses in Congo’s national army and risks further instability. “It’s a sign that the army is very weak,” said one analyst, while cautioning that the local population bears the brunt of such strategies.
In addition to military contracts, Prince recently sought to expand his operations with a $200 million deal to protect Congo’s air force assets using anti-drone systems. However, diplomatic efforts in Europe to facilitate arms exports were reportedly unsuccessful following meetings with Belgian officials.
As Congo continues to battle entrenched insurgencies, the involvement of foreign military contractors underlines the complexities of dealing with internal conflict amid competing geopolitical and economic interests.