Erik Prince's forces suffer battlefield loss in Congo, former UFC fighter among wounded, sources say

Key Points:

• Erik Prince's private military company, Vectus Global, suffered a significant ambush in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in mid-September, resulting in at least 20 casualties, including former UFC fighter and ex-US Green Beret Tim Kennedy.
• The ambush, reportedly carried out by Rwandan forces backing M23 rebels, highlights Prince's expanded security role in Congo, where his company has been involved in securing strategic towns and mineral revenue.
• Tim Kennedy was wounded with three gunshot wounds to the leg and is receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the US; his involvement and the attack's scale had not been previously reported.
• The attack underscores ongoing instability in eastern Congo, with Rwandan-backed rebels controlling key areas rich in minerals, and international efforts, including those brokered under the Trump administration, attempting to resolve the conflict.
• Vectus Global declined to comment on the incident, and US officials have denied formal contracts with Prince in Congo, though they plan closer cooperation with his company in Haiti.