Blackwater founder Erik Prince’s forces suffered a major battlefield loss in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after an enemy ambush killed or wounded at least 20 people. Former UFC fighter and retired Green Beret Tim Kennedy was among those injured in the September 17 attack in South Kivu.

The clash highlights Prince’s expanded role in Congo through his company, Vectus Global. Prince is an ally and supporter of President Donald Trump, while his company also operates in Haiti and other parts of Africa.

Vectus provides consulting and security services and previously helped Congo’s army secure Uvira in South Kivu. Rebels backed by Rwanda control large areas in the eastern part of the country.

Three sources said Kennedy survived the attack with three gunshot wounds to his leg. He was being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the suburbs of Washington.

A veteran special operator reported Kennedy’s injuries on his podcast earlier in the week. Kennedy has a popular podcast channel and millions of followers on social media, while Trump is a UFC fan who hosted fights at the White House this year.

JUST IN: Blackwater founder Erik Prince's forces ambushed in Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving 20 people dead or injured, including former UFC fighter and Green Beret Tim Kennedy (wounded), according to Reuters.

Vectus Global, headed by Prince, has reportedly been operating in Congo. Congo's government says there was an attack on September 17 that left 20 dead or wounded. Reuters reports that Rwandan forces backing the M23 rebels may have launched a surprise attack after tracking a surveillance drone to their location. At least seven Congolese were killed and a former member of ⁠New Zealand's Special Forces. Kennedy and another foreign contractor were reportedly wounded. The former UFC fighter and Green Beret reportedly suffered three gunshot wounds to the leg. He is currently at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, being treated. — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 9, 2026

The ambush also killed Justin Conaglen, a former member of New Zealand’s elite Special Air Service. At least seven Congolese were among the dead and wounded, according to the account.

Conaglen, a lance corporal in the NZSAS, took unpaid leave from the military in March and officially left the armed forces in August, according to the New Zealand Herald. His remains were returned to Auckland before a funeral was held in Northland.

Grieving relatives and former special forces colleagues gathered to receive Conaglen’s remains. New Zealand’s military confirmed that it was helping his family with arrangements but declined to comment further.

A Vectus Global representative also declined to comment. A source with direct knowledge of the operation said the company had not previously suffered casualties in Congo.

One source working for Congo’s government said Rwandan forces supporting the M23 rebels may have found the team by tracking a drone used for surveillance. Another source said the sophistication of the ambush suggested that Rwandan forces were involved, while two other sources blamed the Rwandan military.

Spokespeople for the Congolese and Rwandan governments and M23 did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The State Department and Walter Reed declined to comment, and Kennedy’s parents did not respond when Reuters contacted them.

A Congolese security source said villagers were also likely among the casualties. Reuters spoke with at least 10 sources who either had direct knowledge of the attack or had been briefed on its outcome.

Brent Tucker, a former Green Beret and Delta Force operator, said he learned about the attack shortly after it happened but waited to corroborate the information. 'Of the three-man element, two of them were shot up pretty badly and one lost his life in the Congo,' Tucker said on his Tier1 Podcast.

Tucker claimed the contractors were forced to wait between eight and ten hours for recovery. 'One of the resources you’re going to want is if something goes wrong, someone to come get you and to get you quickly. We also know that didn’t happen,' he said, though that account was not independently confirmed.

According to Tucker, only three contractors were involved in the ambush. He said Kennedy and another unidentified contractor survived after being struck by gunfire, while Conaglen suffered fatal injuries.

Kennedy was evacuated from the conflict zone through Burundi and Johannesburg in South Africa before receiving treatment in the United States. Tucker said he believed Kennedy was shot four times, while three other sources said Kennedy suffered three gunshot wounds to his leg.

Prince’s original mandate in Congo involved securing and improving revenue collection from the country’s mineral reserves. His forces deployed to Uvira in January and early February after Washington helped broker an agreement for rebels backed by Rwanda to leave the strategic town.

Tim Kennedy, Erik Prince, and Mercenary Warfare in Eastern Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has become a theater where private military enterprise, regional rivalries, and international competition over strategic mineral resources converge. Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, initially entered Congo through an agreement to strengthen mineral-revenue collection and combat smuggling. His operations have reportedly expanded into military support for Congolese forces confronting M23, a formidable insurgency backed by the Rwanda Defence Force. The fighting has been exceptionally intense. Around Minembwe, Congolese regulars, Burundian troops, and local militias have confronted M23-aligned formations across mountainous terrain, employing artillery, armed drones, and increasingly sophisticated surveillance capabilities. Justin Conaglen, a veteran of New Zealand's elite SAS who subsequently entered private security work in Africa, recently died. Reports have connected him to Congo, although the circumstances of his death remain unresolved. Former Green Beret and UFC fighter Tim Kennedy has reportedly been wounded and evacuated to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, although independent confirmation of those circumstances remains outstanding. Meanwhile, Washington is attempting to broker peace between Congo and Rwanda while sanctioning Rwandan military involvement and pursuing American investment in Congolese mineral resources. The broader implications concern the expanding role of private military actors in conflicts where commercial interests, state security objectives, and geopolitical competition have become increasingly intertwined. The team at War Tourist Media wishes Tim Kennedy a speedy and complete recovery. — War Tourist Media (@WarTourstMedia) October 8, 2026

The New Zealand Herald reported that Prince secured a $700 million agreement with Congo’s government. The arrangement covered efforts to protect mining revenue and provide military assistance to Congolese forces fighting armed groups in the east.

United Nations investigators previously identified a secret military component in the Vectus contract involving border security, strategic military advice, aircraft and recruitment of former foreign military personnel. The State Department said it has no contracts with Prince in Congo, although American officials said they plan closer cooperation with Vectus in Haiti.

The United Nations and Western powers say Rwanda supports M23 and exercises command and control over the group, which Rwanda denies. Fighting intensified early last year as M23 forces made rapid gains in the mineral rich eastern region.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Conservative Mix. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.