Mercenaries suffer losses in DR Congo
A battlefield clash highlights the role of US private security contractor Erik Prince as his country seeks greater access to minerals.
Last month, forces of US private security contractor Erik Prince suffered significant battlefield losses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), according to a new report. This revelation raises questions about the controversial firm's activities in the country. It is worth noting that Prince's previous company, Blackwater, was involved in a civilian massacre in Iraq back in 2007.
Prince has been actively expanding his presence in DR Congo, a move aimed at gaining favor with US President Donald Trump. The US is keen on securing a strategic mining partnership with the country, which seeks to challenge China's dominance in accessing critical minerals. DR Congo is currently the world's largest producer of cobalt, a crucial component in electronics.
The security situation in the country remains a major challenge, and Prince's forces have been deployed to secure mineral-rich areas and curb smuggling. This is done to provide investor-friendly access to conflict-hit regions. DR Congo, having already received US investment under the agreement, is actively seeking more Western funds.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
