Erik Prince in talks with DRC over $65 million military aviation contract

The founder of the private military contractor Blackwater, Erik Prince, is in negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo over a $65 million contract to provide technical and aviation support to the country's military.

The proposed deal, first reported by Africa Intelligence, would see Prince's logistics firm, Vectus Global, step in to maintain the fleet of the Congolese armed forces, known as the FARDC. Talks are currently focusing on boosting Kinshasa's military aviation capabilities, a critical bottleneck in the government's long-running fight against rebel groups in the eastern provinces.

What the contract covers

Under the terms being discussed, Vectus Global would provide technical, mechanical, and logistical support for the Congolese military's aircraft. The FARDC's air wing, which includes Soviet-era helicopters and transport planes alongside a small number of modern fighter jets, has frequently suffered from maintenance backlogs and operational strain.

The proposed $65 million agreement is designed to address these shortfalls. It aims to streamline operations and ensure that combat and transport aircraft remain flight-ready. Beyond mechanical maintenance, the deal is expected to focus on improving logistical coordination within the defense ministry, which has struggled to manage supply chains to front-line positions.

High-level negotiations

The negotiations follow a face-to-face meeting between Erik Prince and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi in New York. During these discussions, Tshisekedi and Prince talked about how private contractors could help restructure and expand the country's military logistics support.

Tshisekedi's administration has grown increasingly receptive to external private security and logistical partners as regional peacekeeping missions wind down. With the United Nations stabilisation mission withdrawing its forces and East African regional troops leaving, Kinshasa is searching for alternative ways to secure its borders and support its overstretched troops.

Who is Erik Prince?

Prince is best known as the founder of Blackwater, the private security firm that became prominent during the Iraq War. Since selling the company, he has established several logistics and security firms operating primarily in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Prince, who has close political ties to Donald Trump, has long advocated for private business entities to take over logistical and tactical roles traditionally handled by state militaries.

While some early reports claimed the Congolese deal had already been signed, sources close to the discussions indicate that negotiations are still ongoing and no final contract has been executed. Neither Vectus Global nor the Congolese presidency has released an official statement on the status of the talks.