American private military contractor Erik Prince, founder of the controversial Blackwater, is expanding his operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Prince has secured a major contract with the Congolese government to provide security and mining services. His operations include deploying drones and foreign military contractors to support the Congolese army against the AFC-M23 rebel movement in the country's east. This development has drawn attention to Prince's growing influence in a conflict that has attracted competing military, political, and commercial interests.
Prince's views on colonialism have sparked controversy. In a 2024 podcast interview, he argued that the United States should take direct control of countries whose governments he considers incapable of governing themselves. He extended this argument to the African continent, declaring that "pretty much all of Africa" was incapable of governing itself. Prince's remarks amounted to an explicit endorsement of a colonial approach to governance. His comments are particularly significant given his business interests in countries where foreign security operations intersect with valuable natural resources.
Prince's contract with the Congolese government, signed in late 2024, is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Through Vectus Global, his company has supplied drones and foreign contractors to support the Congolese government's military campaign against AFC-M23. His forces helped Congolese troops recapture the strategic city of Uvira in January. The arrangement coincides with Washington's efforts to expand American companies' access to Congo's mineral wealth, particularly critical minerals such as cobalt.
Prince's operations have faced serious difficulties in the country's eastern highlands. Several Colombian contractors were killed in a battle in the Minembwe Highlands early in September 2026. On September 17, another group of mercenaries was caught in an ambush, resulting in the death of a former New Zealand special operations soldier, Justin Conaglen, and the serious injury of American former Green Beret Tim Kennedy.
The casualties have raised questions about the effectiveness of foreign military contractors employed by Congo and the risks involved in relying on private forces to conduct operations in difficult terrain. Critics have questioned Prince's record, with Sean McFate, a former private military contractor, saying that among mercenaries operating in Africa, "Prince is derided because he has zero successful missions."
Prince's work in Congo extends beyond the battlefield. His company employs about 100 people to help the government recover some of the estimated $3 billion in annual tax revenue that Congo loses through fraud in its mining sector. The initiative includes plans to digitize mining records, identify widespread fraud, and improve the collection of taxes owed to the state.
The developments have revived questions about Prince's growing influence in Congo and his views on colonialism. As the conflict in eastern Congo continues, the role of foreign military contractors and the competition for the country's natural resources remain contentious issues.
Key points
- Erik Prince's operations in Congo have faced deadly setbacks, including the death of a former New Zealand special operations soldier.
- Prince's views on colonialism have sparked controversy, with him arguing that the US should take direct control of countries he considers incapable of governing themselves.
- Prince's contract with the Congolese government includes providing security and mining services, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
