$15,000 Per Month: Colombian Mercenaries arrive in DRCongo to fight M23
Colombian mercenaries linked to the American private security company Blackwater have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support Congolese government forces in their mission to recapture the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu from M23 rebels.
According to credible sources, these mercenaries, alongside FARDC troops, were airlifted on Monday from Kisangani and Kindu to Kalemie in Tanganyika Province. Upon arrival at Kalemie International Port, they immediately proceeded to Uvira, a city now under heavy security ahead of the planned offensive.
Reports indicate that Uvira will serve as the assembly point for the mercenaries, FARDC units, Burundian forces, and various Wazalendo militias to finalise preparations for the push to reclaim Bukavu and Goma.
The AFC/M23 alliance stated it remains committed to the upcoming peace talks in Doha, Qatar, even as President Félix Tshisekedi continues to resist negotiations for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Congo.
Sources revealed that the deployment of the Colombian mercenaries was facilitated by Erik Dean Prince, founder of Blackwater, which has signed a contract with Kinshasa. Many of these fighters are former Colombian soldiers who, after retirement, entered the international mercenary market and have been involved in combat missions or high-level security for drug cartels in Latin America.
Since 2000, Colombian mercenaries have been deployed to warzones worldwide, including in Russia, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and Afghanistan. In Africa, over 300 are reported to be fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.
Their arrival in Congo comes after the withdrawal of Romanian mercenaries from the RALF group, who had been fighting alongside FARDC since 2022 against M23. In January 2025, after M23 captured Goma and defeated FARDC and its allies, the Romanian mercenaries surrendered to MONUSCO and were repatriated through Rwanda.
Reports indicate that each Colombian mercenary will earn over $15,000 per month in Congo, while ordinary FARDC soldiers continue to receive low salaries.
International laws prohibit the use of mercenaries in armed conflicts. However, their deployment appears to be a central part of President Tshisekedi’s military strategy as his government struggles to regain control over the mineral-rich eastern provinces.
