Nearly 300 foreign mercenaries who were hired by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to combat Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have surrendered and are on their way back home, following their defeat in Goma.
The mercenaries, who had been stationed in the eastern region to aid Congo’s army against the advancing M23 rebels, were cornered earlier this week when Goma, the largest city in the area, was captured by the rebels. With no safe retreat options left, the mercenaries handed themselves over to United Nations peacekeepers stationed in Goma, who then facilitated their transit through neighboring Rwanda.
One of the mercenaries, a Romanian who had been in Congo for two years, expressed relief as he crossed into Rwanda, saying, “It’s a big relief. We can finally go home.” He described Goma as devastated by the ongoing conflict between Rwandan-backed rebels and Congo’s forces.
The mercenaries, hired to support Congo’s poorly-equipped army, had operated advanced military drones. However, these drones were rendered ineffective by Rwandan air defenses, according to an analysis by the International Crisis Group. The mercenaries were contracted through two private military companies: Agemira RDC, a logistics firm linked to a Bulgarian parent company, and Congo Protection, led by a former French Foreign Legion member for training purposes. The lack of coordination between the contractors exacerbated the conflict, according to Kivu Security Tracker’s Henry-Pacifique Mayala.
The presence of mercenaries in Congo is not new. The country has a long history of hiring foreign fighters, dating back to the 1960s when mercenaries were brought in during the secession attempt of Katanga, a mineral-rich region.
At the border between Goma and Rwanda’s Gisenyi, the mercenaries were seen being processed by Rwandan police, some wearing military fatigues and others with tattoos from the French Foreign Legion. The mercenaries were quietly transported to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, to begin their journey home.
Rwanda’s army confirmed it had taken in over 280 Romanian mercenaries, and they were being sent back after the surrender.
