According to a report by Reuters on October 9th, sources revealed that Erik Prince, the founder of the American private military contractor Blackwater, had his armed forces been ambushed in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in September, resulting in approximately 20 casualties. Among the injured was a former UFC champion.
The report indicates that this firefight on the front line reflects Prince’s increasingly active involvement in the conflicts in Congo, as he serves as an ally and supporter of U.S. President Trump through his company Vectus Global.
Vectus Global primarily provides consulting and security services, with operations in Haiti and several African regions. Previously, the company assisted the Congolese army in guarding the city of Uvira in South Kivu, against the anti-government armed group “M23” supported by Rwanda. The latter currently controls a large portion of eastern Congo.
There were no previous reports regarding the armed units under Prince's command participating in this conflict, nor about the number of casualties involved.
Blackwater Company Founder Eric Prince Visual China
Earlier this week, a veteran of special operations revealed in his podcast that Tim Kennedy, a former U.S. Army Special Forces member known as a Green Beret and a participant in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, was injured in Congo.
Two sources working with the Congolese government said that an attack in South Kivu province on September 17 resulted in approximately 20 deaths and injuries.
Sources indicate that the victims include at least 7 Congolese nationals and one former New Zealand special forces member. The injured include Kennedy and another foreign contractor. Kennedy was shot three times in the leg and is currently receiving treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the suburbs of Washington.
A representative of Vectus Global declined to comment. A source who was directly involved in the operation said that the company had never experienced any casualties in Congo.
A source close to the Guangxi government said that Rwandan military forces, supporting the M23 rebellion against the government, may have tracked the position of members of Princely Group using a drone used for reconnaissance and launched an attack while they were unprepared.
According to reports, the armed forces under Prince initially had the task of protecting the country’s rich mineral resources and improving the efficiency of revenue collection from the mining industry in Congo.
However, in January and early February this year, after an agreement was reached through American mediation, which led to the withdrawal of anti-government armed groups from strategic town Uvira, Prince’s forces entered that city.
It is currently unclear how many personnel Prince has deployed in Congo.
A source who was directly involved in the attack said that during the ambush, the Vectus Global team was moving between different locations. The complexity of the attack indicates that the Rwandan military may have been involved.
Prince is the founder of the former American private military contractor Blackwater Corporation. The company underwent several name changes and reorganizations over time, and some of its members were convicted for killing Iraqi civilians. In 2020, the company received a pardon.
Prince is also a long-time supporter and political ally of Trump, having provided financial support for his campaign. His sister, Becky DeVos, served as the Secretary of Education during Trump’s first term in office.
The US Department of State previously stated that the U.S. government has not signed any contracts with Prince regarding operations in Congo. However, U.S. officials have indicated plans to establish closer relationships with Vectus Global in Haiti.
