The Russian Wagner Group doesn’t have a monopoly on the private military business in Africa. Dozens of similar actors have entered the game, including several European companies.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), two private military companies (PMC) have been operating alongside the national army in the eastern part of the country.
This investigation, led by three freelancers working for news organisations in three EU countries, has highlighted the “grey zone” in which they operate.
The first, Agemira, headquartered in Bulgaria, is owned by French businessman Olivier Bazin. In the DRC, Agemira partners with another private military contractor, Congo Protection, led by Horatiu Potra — a former Foreign Legion officer from Romania. Potra has recruited hundreds of ex-Romanian soldiers and police officers for deployment in the war-torn country.
Through meticulous cross-border reporting, the journalists have revealed that under the guise of supporting the Congolese army, those PMCs use the growing instability and corruptible elites for their own financial gain. They have been awarded several profitable contracts and also advise the Congolese authorities on the purchase of military equipment.
This investigation found that pilots employed by those European PMCs have engaged in direct warfare with combat drones and transported armed group leaders who are accused of war crimes.
After extensive research on the background of the main protagonists, the team also showed that they all belong to the same networks — where soldiers, politicians and businessmen mingle — that have been present in Africa for decades.