Executive Summary

American PMC and former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince* in 2025 partnered with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to secure mineral wealth and, more recently, to deter the Rwandan rebel group M23. M23 captured the city of Uvira in December 2025 after a peace deal was announced between the DRC and Rwanda, but quickly withdrew after U.S. sanction threats, which Prince’s forces backed. 

Prince is not officially associated with the U.S government, but he has deep connections with the ruling Republican Party and his activities strongly align with U.S. policy aims to secure minerals, casting doubts over White House efforts to portray a distance between the current U.S. administration and the world famous gun-for-hire. These U.S. backed mineral deals cement control over the DRC’s resources from China, which will likely instigate a ‘Cold War for resources’ as Chinese deals are scrapped in favour of American investment.

*See Erik Prince: America’s Favourite Mercenary, published in April 2025.