DRC Partners with Former US Navy SEAL Erik Prince to Secure Mining Revenues
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed an agreement with Erik Prince, a former US Navy SEAL and founder of the private military company Blackwater, to help secure its mining revenues.
The agreement, reached several months ago before the January 2025 rebel offensive by M23 forces, aims to improve transparency in the extractive industries and ensure that production and revenues are distributed in line with the Congolese Mining Code.
The initiative targets smuggling and corruption, which continue to cause substantial revenue losses. Initial operations were reportedly planned for the southern Katanga region, particularly along the Kolwezi-Zambia border, where the DRC is estimated to lose up to $40 million per month due to illicit trade.
The government has projected mining revenues of over $5 billion in 2025, an 11% increase from 2024 forecasts. Officials believe this figure could be significantly higher if illegal activity in the sector is reduced.
In response, the government has increased efforts to secure the mining sector. Since October 2024, President Félix Tshisekedi has ordered heightened border controls in mining zones.
Erik Prince, born in Holland, Michigan, is known for founding Blackwater Worldwide (now Academi) in 1997. He sold the company in 2010 after it came under scrutiny over incidents involving contractors in Iraq.
Prince may also benefit from developing partnerships between the United States and the DRC on mining sector cooperation.
Through his company, Frontier Services Group (FSG), Prince has previously signed security contracts in the DRC, including deals to protect mining assets owned by Chinese companies such as Sicomines and China Nonferrous Metal Mining Corp (CNMC).
