Who ambushed Erik Prince’s forces in Congo? Former UFC fighter among wounded

The September 17 ambush in South Kivu raises fresh questions about the risks facing Erik Prince’s Vectus Global as its work moves closer to Congo’s front lines.

A security operation linked to Erik Prince, the founder of the now-defunct private military company Blackwater, suffered a major setback in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after an ambush on September 17, 2026.

The attack took place in South Kivu province, in the country’s conflict-hit east. At least 20 people were killed or wounded, according to sources cited by Reuters.

The casualties reportedly included at least seven Congolese nationals and a former member of New Zealand’s Special Forces. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter and retired US Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy was among those injured.

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Kennedy survived three gunshot wounds to his leg and is receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington.

A representative of Vectus Global, the company linked to the operation, declined to comment. The US State Department and the medical center also declined to comment on Kennedy’s condition.

Erik Prince is best known for founding Blackwater, a private military contractor that became controversial during the Iraq War. The company was involved in the 2007 killing of Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.

Some former Blackwater employees convicted over the killings were pardoned by then-US President Donald Trump in 2020.

Prince now operates through Vectus Global, a company that provides consulting and security services. His initial involvement in Congo was focused on helping the government improve tax collection from its vast mineral resources and curb cross-border smuggling.

Congo’s eastern provinces contain valuable minerals, including gold and tantalum. Yet mineral wealth has also become a source of tension. Smuggling, competition over mining areas, and armed-group activity have helped sustain years of conflict.

Prince’s role subsequently expanded beyond revenue collection. In January and February 2026, personnel associated with his operation were deployed to help Congolese forces secure Uvira, a strategic town near the Burundi border, after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels withdrew from the area. The operation included security personnel and drone support.

The September ambush exposes the risks of an operation that has moved closer to the front lines of an active conflict.

Mercenaries linked to Vectus Global, the private security firm associated with Blackwater founder Erik Prince, were reportedly spotted today in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to local reports. https://t.co/YBIVAdkgsw

The attackers have not been independently identified. However, Reuters pointed to possible involvement by Rwandan forces or forces supporting the M23 rebel group.

One source familiar with the Congolese government’s operations suggested that the attackers may have tracked a surveillance drone to locate the team operating it. Another source said the sophistication of the ambush suggested Rwandan involvement. Two additional sources directly blamed the Rwandan military.

These remain allegations, not independently established findings. Representatives of the Congolese and Rwandan governments and M23 did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Rwanda has denied supporting M23, although the United Nations and Western governments have accused it of backing the group.

Le régime de Kinshasa, au lieu de construire une armée forte, préfère les mercenaires pour protéger son pouvoir. Erik Prince, Tim Kennedy, Justin Conaglen, les vétérans du SAS et comme ces mercenaires roumains dans cette vidéo, que font ces étrangers dans notre pays ? https://t.co/wEXUGTSJAE

The ambush brings the challenges facing Congo into plain sight as it tries to reassert control over its mineral-rich eastern territories.

Armed groups continue to operate in the region, while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have struggled to produce lasting security.