Erik Prince's mercenary forces ambushed in Congo, at least 20 casualties including former UFC fighter Tim Kennedy

A September 17, 2026 ambush in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo killed or injured roughly 20 people, including private contractors operating for Erik Prince's Vectus Global. Former NZSAS soldier Justin Conaglen was killed and former UFC fighter Tim Kennedy suffered three gunshot wounds. Government sources attribute the sophisticated strike to Rwandan military forces backing M23 rebels, potentially tracing a contractor surveillance drone. While Vectus Global holds a $700 million contract for mineral protection and military support, the State Department denies any formal US contracts.

Casualties and recovery from the South Kivu ambush

• ▪A September 17, 2026 ambush on Vectus Global contractors in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo killed and wounded approximately 20 people, including at least seven Congolese civilians and local villagers.
• ▪Former Delta Force operator Brent Tucker reported on the Tier1 Podcast that the three-man contractor element caught in the September 17, 2026 ambush waited eight to ten hours before medical recovery arrived.
• ▪Former New Zealand Special Air Service lance corporal Justin Conaglen was killed during the September 17, 2026 South Kivu ambush while working as a private security contractor.
• ▪Former US Army Green Beret and UFC fighter Tim Kennedy survived the September 17, 2026 Congo ambush with multiple gunshot wounds to his leg and was medically evacuated to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Official responses to the ambush

• ▪A representative for Vectus Global declined to comment on the September 17, 2026 attack, which marked the firm's first casualties in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• ▪Spokespeople for the Congolese government, the Rwandan government, and the M23 rebel group did not respond to requests for comment regarding the September 17, 2026 attack.

Rwandan military involvement with M23 rebels

• ▪Congolese government sources stated that Rwandan military forces supporting M23 rebels carried out the September 17, 2026 ambush, potentially by tracking a Vectus Global surveillance drone to the team's position.
• ▪The United Nations and Western governments state that Rwanda exercises command and control over the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo, an allegation the Rwandan government denies.

Vectus Global's contract and deployment in Congo

• ▪In January and February 2026, Vectus Global deployed personnel and surveillance drones to Uvira in South Kivu to help Congolese forces secure the city following a US-brokered withdrawal of M23 rebels.
• ▪United Nations investigators identified a secret military component in Vectus Global's Congo contract involving border security, strategic military advice, aircraft, and recruitment of foreign military personnel.
• ▪Erik Prince's private security firm Vectus Global secured a reported $700 million agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect mining revenues, curb mineral smuggling, and assist government military forces.

United States relations with Vectus Global

• ▪United States officials stated that they plan to work more closely with private security firm Vectus Global on operations in Haiti.
• ▪The United States State Department confirmed it holds no official military or security contracts with Erik Prince or Vectus Global in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Democratic Republic of Congo cobalt market

• ▪The Democratic Republic of Congo mined approximately 230,000 tons of cobalt in 2025, accounting for 74 percent of total global supply.
• ▪The Democratic Republic of Congo suspended cobalt exports in February 2025 before replacing the ban in October with export quotas running through at least late 2027.

Tanganyika province militia activities

• ▪In Tanganyika province, local self-defense militias known as wazalendo have taken over security for mining sites and extorted fees from foreign operations amid ongoing clashes with M23 guerrillas.
• ▪The Bishambuke militia in Tanganyika province demands approximately $1,500 per month from companies traveling through its territory and kidnaps Chinese nationals for ransom.

Debatable claims

• ▪DRC's reliance on private security contractors to protect mineral revenues is justified by state military weakness
• ▪Western governments should prohibit former elite military personnel from working for private contractors in foreign conflict zones