Fifteen years after the controversial collapse of his private security firm Blackwater,Erik Prince is again forging business ventures in conflict zones,this time in the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo. The former contractor-whose company faced scrutiny for its actions in Iraq-has secured a new deal with the Congolese government to bolster tax collection from its vast mining operations, raising questions about the privatization of security and resource management in the region. This renewed involvement comes as the DRC navigates ongoing instability and increasing international interest in its strategic mineral wealth-resources vital for the growing electric vehicle market-and follows a recent peace accord brokered by the United States.
Published On 18/12/2025
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آخر تحديث: 18:20 (توقيت مكة)
Fifteen years after the dramatic fall of his security firm Blackwater, Erik Prince is re-emerging in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a new series of contracts.
The man whose name became synonymous with the privatization of the “war on terror” during the George W. Bush administration has found a new foothold in Africa, a region rich in strategic minerals coveted by both the United States and China, according to Africa Report.
Prince has remained active since leaving the spotlight, moving between troubled cities and countries in search of opportunities in high-risk areas.
A Life of Adventure
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Prince left the United States in 2010 after selling Blackwater following the 2007 Nisour Square massacre in Baghdad, where company operatives killed 17 Iraqi civilians.
Despite the scandal that effectively dismantled “the world’s most powerful private army,” Prince remained active. He launched anti-piracy programs off the coast of Somalia and attempted to invest in copper through his Frontier Services Group, listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Though that venture was not a major success, he maintained a presence in the Congo alongside Chinese companies in the Katanga region.
According to Africa Report, Prince saw himself as “logistically brilliant” rather than a traditional investor, believing the future of electric vehicles will make the Congo a global hub for wealth.
Taxing Mining: Sovereignty or Privatization?
In December 2024, after two years of negotiations, Prince signed a contract with the Congolese Ministry of Finance to create a “force” to collect taxes from mining companies.
The project, which could extend to oil, gas, and timber, is presented as a way to strengthen state sovereignty. However, it raises questions about the DRC’s reliance on private companies to manage its resources.
Africa Report estimates that tens of billions of dollars in tax revenue are lost due to manipulation of records, giving Prince an opportunity to market himself as a financial savior.
The Security Dimension: From Taxes to Aircraft
With the Congolese army faltering in the face of attacks by the M23 movement in 2025, the possibility emerged that Prince’s contract could expand to include logistical and security support.
Sources speaking to Africa Report mentioned his interest in the market for maintaining military aircraft, and his contacts with the General Staff and even with President Félix Tshisekedi in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The presence of mercenaries from various nationalities in eastern Congo also opens the door for Prince to become part of a complex network of international actors.
Intersection with the Trump Deal
On December 4, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed a peace deal between the Congo and Rwanda, along with a “strategic partnership” with Kinshasa granting U.S. companies access to mining concessions. The development underscores growing regional competition for resources.
Prince is seen as an indirect but prominent player in connecting the Congo with the U.S. private sector, according to Africa Report.
Trump’s advisors deny any formal connection between Prince’s project and U.S. policy, but Prince himself says, “I know some people in the administration, and they will listen to me if I make enough noise.”
