Erik Prince's Mercenary Deal in Congo: Ex-Green Beret Hurt, New Zealand Elite Soldier Dead
The New York Times reports on the growing role of Blackwater founder Erik Prince in the Congo conflict. A former Green Beret was injured and an elite soldier from New Zealand died.
Erik Prince, the American businessman who founded the private security firm Blackwater, is playing a growing role in one of Africa's most intractable conflicts: the armed conflict in Congo. Two recent incidents point to this: a former Green Beret, a veteran of the US Army's special forces, was injured, and an elite soldier from New Zealand died. The New York Times reported on the matter on 9 October 2026.
What is known
The newspaper describes Prince's arrangement in Congo as a mercenary deal. In its view, the two cases show that the Blackwater founder's part in the conflict is expanding. The available introduction to the article gives no details on how the incidents occurred, who the victims were, or what the terms of the contract are.
Why it matters
The Congo conflict is described by the paper as among the hardest to resolve in Africa. Bringing private fighters and mercenaries into it raises questions about the involvement of foreign armed personnel, and the casualties include both an American and a New Zealander. The New York Times provides fuller reporting in its complete article.
