DRC: Erik Prince and private contractors at the heart of the mining conflict

To counter the advance of the M23 rebellion in the east of the country, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has made extensive use of foreign private military actors, according to The Africa Report, which cites an investigation by the NGO Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC). This arrangement involves Israeli instructors, Romanian contractors, and companies linked to American businessman Erik Prince, founder of the former private military company Blackwater.

According to the GI-TOC report, Erik Prince concluded a five-year agreement with the Congolese Ministry of Finance in December 2024, valued at between 100 and 200 million dollars. Officially, this mission entrusted to entities such as Vectus Global and Quantum Global Consulting aims to secure mining sites, optimize tax revenues, and combat cross-border smuggling in a region rich in natural resources.

However, the investigation indicates that the activities of these private providers go beyond the scope of tax and logistics. On the ground, teams associated with Erik Prince have provided technical support and drone surveillance to Congolese special forces, particularly during fighting around the strategic city of Uvira in South Kivu, in coordination with foreign military advisors and local units.

This outsourcing has accelerated due to the logistical and structural difficulties of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) in the face of a rebellion supported by several thousand Rwandan soldiers, according to UN experts cited in the document. This dynamic has fostered the emergence of a lucrative war economy, where mining interests and private security services are closely intertwined.

Our perspective

The reliance on foreign military companies to defend the territory and secure raw materials undermines the sovereignty of the DRC. Lasting peace and full control over mining wealth require the rebuilding of strong public institutions and a capable national army, serving exclusively the African people.