DR Congo:Who is the billionaire Erik Prince, the ex-founder of Blackwater assigned to secure the mines?

Erik Prince, a former U.S. Navy serviceman, is recognized for his private mercenary firms that operate in some of the most perilous regions globally, including Libya and Haiti. As reported by the Reuters news agency and Africa Intelligence, this American billionaire has entered into a partnership with the Congolese government to safeguard mines, forests, and hydrocarbons in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as Kinshasa faces challenges in countering the M23 armed group’s offensive.

A man operating in the shadows, present in various locations such as Haiti, China, Mozambique, and Libya… Erik Prince provides the services of his company, Frontier Services Group (FSG), globally. Founded in 2014 with Chinese funding, his firm is based and listed in Hong Kong.

Having established a presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for a decade, the group has expanded its operations within the country. According to reports from Africa Intelligence and Reuters, it notably signed a partnership at the end of 2024 with Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba Likunde, aimed at collecting mining taxes and curbing cross-border smuggling.

A “close associate of Donald Trump”

Erik Prince, a former member of the U.S. Navy SEALs, is the ex-head of the largest private army, Blackwater, which was rebranded as Academi and sold in 2010.

The company is infamously known for its involvement in the Iraq War: four of its former agents were convicted of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007. They were pardoned six years later by Donald Trump, with whom Erik Prince shares a “very close” relationship.

This ultraconservative, hailing from Michigan, is also the brother of former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. He has been advising President Donald Trump since his first term (2017-2021), particularly regarding American foreign operations.

Are former members of the Foreign Legion being recruited?

American and Congolese officials assert that the agreement currently under negotiation, which was established even prior to the peace accord signed at the end of June between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, is not merely a “minerals for security” arrangement, as stated by a source contacted by the media outlet Africa Intelligence.

Africa Intelligence also disclosed that among the security personnel, former Foreign Legion members would be enlisted. Their deployment is anticipated to commence in the southern region of the country, away from the territories controlled by the M23 and its allies. The aim is to safeguard the mines and tax revenues in Katanga province, known for its abundant copper resources.

However, no specifics were provided regarding how the advisors plan to address the corruption that has long afflicted the sector. This remains the most contentious element of this partnership, which involves a region already suffering from systemic violence.

Erik Prince’s mission may also play a role in a significant diplomatic challenge highlighted by Donald Trump: enhancing the American economic footprint in the DRC to counter the well-established Chinese competitors, particularly in the mining industry.