Romanian Mercenaries vs. Polish Weapons? African Conflict Heats Up

The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with intensified fighting in the Kivu region, where M23 rebels threaten the country’s stability. According to authorities in Kinshasa, Rwanda is providing logistical and financial support to M23, a claim that Kigali firmly denies. In response, the DRC is seeking military assistance both from African allies and international partners.

Mercenaries are becoming increasingly influential in the conflict areas. Foreign military companies such as the Romanian Asociatia RALF, led by Horațiu Potra (employing around 900 contractors who provide advisory and training services to DRC’s armed forces), and Bulgarian Agemira, led by Frenchman Olivier Bazin (in collaboration with Congo Protection, owned by Potra), are conducting operations near the strategic city of Goma.

These mercenary groups include personnel from Russia, Bulgaria, and Georgia, tasked mainly with providing logistical, training, and advisory support to the DRC’s government forces. Interestingly, Rwanda reportedly utilizes Polish Grot rifles in its operations.

Horațiu Potra, with a force of 1,000 Romanian mercenaries earning $8,000 each, attempted to fill the power vacuum in central Africa after the fall of the Wagner Group, hoping that Russia would fund his activities and send reinforcements through its contacts in Congo. However, he found himself isolated as other armed groups, led by M23, launched offensives in the region.

The involvement of mercenaries remains highly controversial. There are fears that their presence could escalate violence, especially if formations like the Russian Wagner Group—known for brutal operations elsewhere in Africa—enter the conflict. The presence of private military companies in the DRC complicates peace negotiations and draws attention from global powers competing for influence on the continent, including Turkey, the UAE, Russia, and China.

Tensions between the DRC and Rwanda are also straining diplomatic relations. Calls for mediation have emerged on the international stage, but with mistrust between the warring parties and the involvement of mercenaries, prospects for negotiations appear bleak. Additionally, attacks on embassies in Kinshasa—targeting those of the U.S., France, Belgium, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Rwanda—have heightened tensions. Poland, which closed its embassy in the DRC in 2008, reopened a diplomatic mission in Rwanda in 2023.

The participation of mercenary groups in conflicts on Congolese territory is not unprecedented. During the DRC’s struggle for independence from Belgium, mercenaries fought for both the central government and secessionist provinces like Katanga and Kasai. The wars in Shaba in 1977 and 1978 further reinforced this pattern. The DRC’s history—from the instability under leaders like Moïse Tshombe, Patrice Lumumba, and Joseph Kasavubu, through the autocratic rule of Mobutu’s Zaire, to the 18-year presidency of Joseph Kabila and now Félix Tshisekedi—has seen repeated reliance on mercenary forces due to systemic weaknesses in its military structures.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame appears prepared for full-scale conflict. Facing him is not only the DRC but also South Africa, which has indicated it might enter the fray. Despite Rwanda’s backing of M23 and its incursions into DRC territory, no country is eager to become entangled in yet another African conflict. The DRC stands little chance in a military confrontation and must rely on diplomatic efforts, potentially mediated by Turkey, the U.S., or the African Union. The AU has delegated mediation efforts to Angolan President João Lourenço. Meanwhile, France’s foreign minister has visited Kinshasa, emphasizing that Rwandan troops must withdraw—without achieving results.

Even if the current conflict subsides, there is a strong likelihood that fighting will resume in a few years. For over three decades, this region has been plagued by disputes over natural resources, territory, and ethnic tensions involving groups such as the Hutu, Tutsi, Nande (Yira), Banyamulenge, Tembo, Hunde, Nyanga, Hema, Lendu, and Bembe. These enduring factors continue to fuel cycles of violence.