What You Need to Know
After 15 years, Eric Prince, founder of Blackwater, re-emerges in the Democratic Republic of Congo through new contracts. His involvement raises questions about the privatization of resources and the role of private companies in managing national wealth, particularly in a region rich in strategic minerals.
Africa. After 15 years of being out of the limelight, Eric Prince, founder of the private security firm Blackwater, is back in the scene through new contracts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The man whose name became synonymous with the privatization of the “War on Terror” during President George W. Bush’s administration has found a new outlet in the heart of Africa, where strategic minerals are contested by Americans and Chinese, as reported by Africa Report.
Prince has never truly disappeared; he has been moving between troubled cities and countries, seeking opportunities in high-risk areas.
The Journey of an Adventurous Man
Prince left the United States in 2010 after selling Blackwater following the Baghdad Nisour Square scandal in 2007, where his company’s personnel killed 17 Iraqi civilians.
Although that incident ended what was once considered “the world’s most powerful private army,” Prince did not retire. He launched anti-piracy programs in Somalia and attempted to invest in copper through his company Frontier Services Group, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Despite the lack of significant success in that venture, he maintained a presence in Congo alongside Chinese companies in the Katanga region.
According to Africa Report, Prince sees himself as a “logistical expert” rather than a traditional investor, believing that the future of electric vehicles positions Congo as a global center for wealth.
Taxes on 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 “task force” to collect taxes from mining companies.
The project, which may extend to oil, gas, and timber, is presented as a means to enhance state sovereignty. However, it raises questions about Congo’s reliance on private companies to manage its resources.
According to Africa Report, estimates suggest that tens of billions in tax revenues are lost due to record manipulation, giving Prince an opportunity to market himself as a financial savior for the state.
The Security Dimension: From Taxes to Aircraft
With the Congolese army collapsing against attacks from the M23 movement in 2025, the possibility arose for Prince’s contract to expand to include logistical and security support.
Sources told Africa Report of his interest in the military aircraft maintenance market and his communications with the General Staff and even with President Félix Tshisekedi in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.
Additionally, the presence of mercenaries from various nationalities in eastern Congo opens the door for Prince to be part of a complex network of international actors.
Intersection with Trump’s Deal
On December 4, President Donald Trump signed a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda, alongside a “strategic partnership” with Kinshasa that allows American companies access to mining concessions.
In this context, Prince is viewed as an indirect yet prominent player in linking Congo with the American private sector, according to Africa Report.
Trump’s advisors deny any official relationship between Prince’s project and U.S. policy, but Prince himself states, “I know some people in the administration, and they will listen to me if I make enough noise.”
A Broader Perspective on Prince’s Character
Eric Prince is not just a businessman seeking contracts; he embodies a new phase of privatization in international conflicts.
From Iraq to Somalia to Kinshasa, he has positioned himself as a “security contractor” capable of filling the gaps left by weak states.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, with its vast mineral wealth, represents an opportunity for him to reposition himself at the heart of U.S.-Chinese competition, as noted by Africa Report.
His tax project may merely be a gateway to broader security roles and potentially reshape the relationship between the state and the private sector in Africa.
Eric Prince founded Blackwater in 1997, which became notorious for its role in the Iraq War, particularly after the 2007 Nisour Square incident. Following the fallout from this event, he sold the company in 2010 and sought new ventures, including anti-piracy programs and investments in mining. His return to the Democratic Republic of Congo marks a significant shift in his focus towards the African continent, where he sees opportunities amid geopolitical competition.
