Reports Emerge Claiming M23 Detained Blackwater Founder Erik Prince in Eastern DRC

Information continuing to emerge from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) claims that the M23 armed group has detained Erik Prince, the American national known as the founder and former head of the private military company Blackwater.

According to the reports, Prince was allegedly arrested earlier this week in the city of Uvira.

Sources say that when a coalition of forces fighting alongside the DRC government re-entered Uvira last month—after M23 had withdrawn from the city—foreign mercenaries under Prince’s leadership were among those accompanying the coalition. These mercenaries have reportedly been seen for some time in ongoing fighting in the surrounding highland areas.

The same sources allege that Prince was arrested at a hotel in the Muchepe area, together with soldiers assigned to his security, before being taken to an undisclosed location.

As of now, the AFC/M23 coalition has neither confirmed nor denied the reported detention of Erik Prince.

When questioned by journalists on Friday about the claims, AFC/M23 deputy spokesperson Dr. Oscar Balinda said that the matter falls under the responsibility of the group’s military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma.