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Spotlight | DRC
Foreign private military contractors flood into North Kivu

Soldiers of the Congolese Republican Guard walk on the tarmac of the airport in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on 12th November 2022. © Alexis Huguet/AFP

Africa Intelligence lifts the veil on the private security companies currently operating in the eastern DRC city of Goma. There are dozens of former Soviet soldiers present, as well as a French businessman and a Romanian veteran of the French Foreign Legion. [...]

Published on 06/01/2023 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 5 minutes Olivier Liffran, Joan Tilouine

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Defence

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DRC
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Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

At Washington's request, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reluctantly agreed to consider dialogue with Rwanda, but only if the latter ceases its military presence on Congolese soil. Kinshasa is at the same time maintaining its war rhetoric and trying to reboot its military campaign against M23 rebels.

Subscribers only Defence 06.02.2024

DR Congo president, Félix Tshisekedi, and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame.

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi's South Kivu gold headache

Primera Gold has a monopoly on the trade and export of artisanal gold from the eastern province thanks to a partnership between the DRC and UAE. But it has not been able to stem the flow of illicit gold to neighbouring countries.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 19.01.2024

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi with his Emirati counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on 24 January 2023.

Africa
The Wagner problem to take centre stage at next UN peacekeeping summit

Participants at the next UN Peacekeeping Ministerial conference, in Accra in December, have already been invited to brainstorm on the topics to be discussed, and at the top of the list are likely to be issues concerning Wagner.

Subscribers only Defence 30.08.2023

DRC
Tshisekedi due in Kyiv before attending Russia-Africa summit

The Congolese president, who confirmed to Moscow that he would be attending the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, will nevertheless make a detour to Kyiv before the event, where he will meet the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.07.2023

Félix Tshisekedi, at an African Union coordination meeting in Nairobi, 16 July 2023.

DRC
Horatiu Potra boosts his private military contingent in Goma

Around 1,000 private soldiers are now helping the DRC armed forces fight the M23 rebels in North Kivu.

Subscribers only Defence 23.06.2023

DRC
Kinshasa procures four new attack helicopters

The DRC government is continuing to beef up its military capabilities in order to deal with the M23, its latest acquisition being four MI-24s from the Chadian army.

Subscribers only Defence 01.06.2023

Spotlight | DRC
MbZ and Tshisekedi finalise arms and mines deals

Kinshasa and Abu Dhabi are secretly finalising an unprecedented deal that would include major mining projects and may also have a military component.

Subscribers only Defence, Mining, Diplomacy 02.05.2023

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan with RDC's president Felix Tshisekedi in Abu Dhabi, on 19 January 2023.

Inner circles | DRC
Strategists gear up to get Tshisekedi re-elected

The Congolese president's official and shadow advisers are preparing for the presidential election scheduled for December, despite the possibility that it will be postponed. They hope to ward off a potential political crisis and secure another term for the incumbent.

Subscribers only Mining, Politics 07.04.2023

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi

DRC
Kinshasa eyes Chinese fighter jets after buying Beijing's drones

A high-level delegation from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corp (CATIC) travelled last week to Kinshasa, accompanied by officers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), to try to sell its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to DR Congo.

Subscribers only Defence 14.03.2023

In Focus | DRC, Rwanda
As fight against M23 continues, Kigali and Kinshasa wage war of intelligence

Faced with Kinshasa's accusations of support for the M23 by Kigali, Rwandan intelligence has been documenting collusion between the Congolese army and the FDLR rebel militias for several months. In this battle of narratives, each side is sharing their classified information with Western capitals.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 13.03.2023

Intelligence reports are also used as weapons of war in the M23 crisis between Rwanda and the DRC.

DRC, Rwanda
Paris embarrassed by presence of French veterans in eastern DRC

At least three French former officers now working in the private sector are providing logistical support to the Congolese army in the east - a source of embarrassment at the highest levels of the French state.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 10.03.2023

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa calls on armed Chinese drones and Foreign Legion vet to take on M23 rebels

The Congolese army is struggling to contain the M23 rebel group. In seeking to reverse the balance of power, Kinshasa has bought military drones from China and hired private Romanian soldiers operating under the command of a French Foreign Legion veteran.

Subscribers only Defence 21.02.2023

CASC Rainbow CH-4, an unmanned aerial vehicle in Zhuhai, China, 8 November 2022.

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi weighs his military options against M23

In the conflict with the M23 rebels, the DRC president has to take into account his army's serious weaknesses and as well as the hostility of some in his entourage to Paul Kagame's regime. Although he has left the door open to mediation, he is still quietly planning large-scale military operations.

Subscribers only Defence, Politics, Diplomacy 27.01.2023

DRC army tanks on the border with Rwanda.

In Focus | Senegal
Frank Timis's Senegal feint

The Australian-Romanian businessman is under investigation by the US, UK and Swiss authorities, and is eager to divert attention away from suspicions of corruption regarding an oil and gas block acquisition. This gambit focusses on on arable land bought in Senegal via a company that he is looking to have listed on Wall Street.

Subscribers only Business 05.12.2022

The Australian-Romanian businessman, Frank Timis.

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DRC
Agemira
Agemira DRC
Ange-Felix Patasse
Balkan Novotech
Bijou Eliya
Bintou Keita
Boeing
Congo Protection
Dany Banza
FARDC
Felix Tshisekedi
Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda
Franck Ngama Lebe
Franck Ntumba
Frank Timis
Gilbert Kabanda Rukemba
Gilbert Kurhega Kabanda
Gunvor
Hello Jets
Horatiu Potra
Jerome Chico Tshitambwe
Joseph Kabila
M23
Maurice Diasuka Dia
Metalika AB
Olive Kabila
Olivier Bazin
Patrick Bologna
Sukhoi
United Nations
Wagner

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Libya
From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Spotlight | DRC
Foreign private military contractors flood into North Kivu

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi's South Kivu gold headache

Africa
The Wagner problem to take centre stage at next UN peacekeeping summit

DRC
Tshisekedi due in Kyiv before attending Russia-Africa summit

DRC
Horatiu Potra boosts his private military contingent in Goma

DRC
Kinshasa procures four new attack helicopters

Spotlight | DRC
MbZ and Tshisekedi finalise arms and mines deals

Inner circles | DRC
Strategists gear up to get Tshisekedi re-elected

DRC
Kinshasa eyes Chinese fighter jets after buying Beijing's drones

In Focus | DRC, Rwanda
As fight against M23 continues, Kigali and Kinshasa wage war of intelligence

DRC, Rwanda
Paris embarrassed by presence of French veterans in eastern DRC

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa calls on armed Chinese drones and Foreign Legion vet to take on M23 rebels

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi weighs his military options against M23

In Focus | Senegal
Frank Timis's Senegal feint

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa strikes military procurement deal with Moscow

DRC
How the Congolese army lost its medevac helicopter

In Focus | Chad
RJM Aviation reigns supreme in the sky over Chad

Ivory Coast
The secret history of the Guillaume Soro recording

DRC
Deputy Patrick Bologna takes consolation in family mines

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Africa Intelligence on social media

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About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Libya From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Senegal Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

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Transition: what's next after the coup?

Spotlight | DRC Foreign private military contractors flood into North Kivu

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Spotlight | DRC Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

Spotlight | DRC Tshisekedi's South Kivu gold headache

Africa The Wagner problem to take centre stage at next UN peacekeeping summit

DRC Tshisekedi due in Kyiv before attending Russia-Africa summit

DRC Horatiu Potra boosts his private military contingent in Goma

DRC Kinshasa procures four new attack helicopters

Spotlight | DRC MbZ and Tshisekedi finalise arms and mines deals

Inner circles | DRC Strategists gear up to get Tshisekedi re-elected

DRC Kinshasa eyes Chinese fighter jets after buying Beijing's drones

In Focus | DRC, Rwanda As fight against M23 continues, Kigali and Kinshasa wage war of intelligence

DRC, Rwanda Paris embarrassed by presence of French veterans in eastern DRC

Spotlight | DRC Kinshasa calls on armed Chinese drones and Foreign Legion vet to take on M23 rebels

Spotlight | DRC Tshisekedi weighs his military options against M23

In Focus | Senegal Frank Timis's Senegal feint

Spotlight | DRC Kinshasa strikes military procurement deal with Moscow

DRC How the Congolese army lost its medevac helicopter

In Focus | Chad RJM Aviation reigns supreme in the sky over Chad

Ivory Coast The secret history of the Guillaume Soro recording

DRC Deputy Patrick Bologna takes consolation in family mines

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Libya
From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Spotlight | DRC
Foreign private military contractors flood into North Kivu

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi's South Kivu gold headache

Africa
The Wagner problem to take centre stage at next UN peacekeeping summit

DRC
Tshisekedi due in Kyiv before attending Russia-Africa summit

DRC
Horatiu Potra boosts his private military contingent in Goma

DRC
Kinshasa procures four new attack helicopters

Spotlight | DRC
MbZ and Tshisekedi finalise arms and mines deals

Inner circles | DRC
Strategists gear up to get Tshisekedi re-elected

DRC
Kinshasa eyes Chinese fighter jets after buying Beijing's drones

In Focus | DRC, Rwanda
As fight against M23 continues, Kigali and Kinshasa wage war of intelligence

DRC, Rwanda
Paris embarrassed by presence of French veterans in eastern DRC

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa calls on armed Chinese drones and Foreign Legion vet to take on M23 rebels

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi weighs his military options against M23

In Focus | Senegal
Frank Timis's Senegal feint

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa strikes military procurement deal with Moscow

DRC
How the Congolese army lost its medevac helicopter

In Focus | Chad
RJM Aviation reigns supreme in the sky over Chad

Ivory Coast
The secret history of the Guillaume Soro recording

DRC
Deputy Patrick Bologna takes consolation in family mines