Erik Prince contractors deployed in Eastern Congo as Rwanda accuses DRC of using mercenaries

Blackwater founder Erik Prince deployed private security contractors to support Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forces in securing the eastern city of Uvira from Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels, Reuters reported, citing five sources familiar with the matter.

Uvira, located near the border with Burundi, was briefly captured by the rebels in December, dealing a setback to peace efforts backed by the United States and Qatar. The fighters later withdrew after Washington warned of possible retaliation, Reuters said.

According to the report, Prince’s team was sent to Uvira at the request of the Kinshasa government during a critical phase of fighting. The contractors provided drone support to Congolese special operations units and army forces battling M23 rebels in Uvira and parts of South Kivu province. Sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the operation marked the first known instance of Prince’s contractors participating directly in frontline military activity in Congo.

One senior Congolese security official told Reuters that the presence of contractors linked to the United States could “serve as a deterrent to AFC/M23 fighters, who might seek to avoid direct confrontation.”

A Congolese security official described the deployment as consistent with what he called a “minerals-for-security” arrangement. After the situation in Uvira stabilized, Prince’s contractors reportedly withdrew and resumed their primary assignment — “assisting the government in improving” mining revenue collection. “They needed help recapturing Uvira and pulled in every resource they could. Focus is back on the tax police project now,” Reuters quoted a source briefed on the operation as saying.

Reuters also reported that Prince’s personnel coordinated with Israeli advisers tasked with training two Congolese special forces battalions in day and night operations. One source indicated that the Israeli role was limited strictly to training.

Following reports of private security contractors operating in eastern Congo, Rwanda accused the DRC of breaching international law.

In a statement released Tuesday, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, alleged that Kinshasa was “defying the international community” by repeatedly employing foreign mercenaries.

“By using foreign mercenaries over and over again, the Government of the DRC is defying the international community by violating the OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, adopted in Libreville on 3rd July 1977, and the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 4th December 1989 (Resolution 44/34),” he said.

Nduhungirehe questioned whether international bodies would respond. “Will the UN Security Council, the African Union and the larger ‘international community’ continue looking the other way in the face of this persistent violation of international law?” he asked.

Prince, a prominent supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, founded the private security firm Blackwater in 1996. The company rose to global prominence during the Iraq War, providing security services to the U.S. government. After facing legal scrutiny and restructuring, Blackwater was ultimately absorbed into Constellis Holdings in 2014. Although Prince no longer controls the company, he has remained active in the private security industry.

In early 2025, Prince reportedly finalized a contract worth approximately $700 million with the DRC government. The agreement centers on providing security services and improving the collection and management of revenues tied to Congo’s vast mineral wealth, particularly in the copper-rich Katanga region.

Reports indicate that Prince has recruited former French military personnel to form specialized units tasked with protecting mining infrastructure. The approach reflects a broader trend in conflict-affected states toward hiring foreign veterans and private security firms to safeguard strategic economic assets.

Prince’s operations in Africa have largely focused on resource-rich environments, particularly sectors involving copper, cobalt, and other minerals critical to global supply chains. His model typically combines security services with commercial and logistical support, embedding private contractors within state security and economic structures.

The involvement of foreign private security forces in eastern Congo adds complexity to an already complex regional security environment.

Eastern DRC remains volatile, with armed factions operating in mineral-rich territories. While private contractors may bolster protection of extraction sites, critics argue that outsourcing security of strategic national assets risks weakening state authority and complicating oversight and accountability.

Prince’s association with Blackwater’s controversial history continues to attract scrutiny from advocacy groups concerned about human rights compliance.

His deployment also unfolds against the backdrop of a fragile, U.S.-brokered peace effort between Rwanda and the DRC. Although initially hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough, the agreement has struggled to deliver tangible stability. Kigali and Kinshasa continue to exchange accusations of ceasefire violations and interference. However, Washington’s engagement in the region is driven in part by strategic interest in securing access to critical minerals such as cobalt and coltan. A subsequent U.S.–DRC minerals agreement has faced political resistance within Congo and opposition from armed groups in the east.