Trump ally Prince sent men, drones to help Congo’s army secure strategic town
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, attends a police and military presentation, in Guayaquil, Ecuador on April 5, 2025. Erik Prince’s private force used drones to help Congo’s army retake Uvira amid ongoing conflict.
Blackwater founder Erik Prince deployed a private security force to operate drones and help Democratic Republic of Congo's army secure the strategic city of Uvira against Rwanda-backed rebels, four people briefed on the mission said.
The AFC/M23 rebels briefly seized the city on the border with Burundi in December in a major blow to ongoing US and Qatar-backed peace negotiations. They withdrew after Washington threatened to retaliate.
