Erik Prince's forces suffer battlefield casualties in Congo, ex-UFC fighter wounded: sources

Key Points:

• Erik Prince’s private security company, Vectus Global, suffered a significant ambush in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on September 17, resulting in at least 20 casualties, including former UFC fighter and ex-US Green Beret Tim Kennedy, who was wounded with three gunshot wounds to the leg.
• The attack, reportedly carried out by Rwandan forces backing the M23 rebels, highlights Prince’s expanded role in Congo, where his company has been involved in security operations and revenue collection from mineral reserves, particularly after helping secure the city of Uvira earlier this year.
• Vectus Global’s involvement in Congo marks a shift from Prince’s previous operations, with the company now engaging in frontline combat, although the exact size of its forces remains unclear; the ambush’s sophistication suggests tracking via surveillance drones.
• Tim Kennedy, a popular podcast host and social media figure, is currently receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, while the incident underscores ongoing regional instability fueled by the conflict between Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed rebels.
• The US State Department has no contracts with Prince in Congo but plans closer cooperation with his company in Haiti; meanwhile, Rwanda denies backing M23 rebels despite accusations from the UN and Western powers, amid a protracted conflict over the mineral-rich eastern Congo region.