American security contractor Erik Prince has deployed private security operatives equipped with drones to support the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in operations against the AFC/M23 coalition in South Kivu, multiple sources have confirmed.
The deployment is focused on Uvira territory, a strategic area that was briefly seized by AFC/M23 in December 2025 before the group withdrew amid reported diplomatic pressure from the United States. Despite the withdrawal, clashes have persisted in parts of Uvira, Fizi, and Minembwe, with FARDC continuing military operations against the coalition.
Sources familiar with the matter say Prince’s team has been assisting Congolese forces with aerial surveillance and intelligence-gathering using drone technology, as well as providing operational support on the ground.
A spokesperson for Prince declined to comment on the specifics of the deployment. Congolese presidential and military officials in the region have also not issued formal statements.
Prince, founder of the private military company formerly known as Blackwater and a known ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has reportedly been engaged by the Congolese government to support security efforts and help safeguard mineral-rich areas.
According to a senior official cited by Reuters, the deployment began before AFC/M23 took control of Uvira, with the objective of preventing the city’s capture. The group eventually withdrew from Uvira on January 17, 2026, after limited urban combat.
Officials indicate that additional deployments to other parts of South Kivu remain possible, depending on operational needs and directives from Kinshasa.
A senior official at the Ministry of Security confirmed that the engagement of Prince’s operatives was carried out at the request of the Congolese government to reinforce national armed forces amid ongoing instability in eastern DRC.
