Erik Prince's forces suffer at least 20 casualties in Congo ambush as ex-UFC fighter Tim Kennedy is shot three times

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026.

Blackwater founder Erik Prince's private military company Vectus Global suffered its first known casualties in the Democratic Republic of Congo after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels ambushed his fighters in South Kivu on September 17. At least seven Congolese nationals and a former New Zealand Special Forces soldier were killed, while former US Green Beret and UFC fighter Tim Kennedy survived after being shot three times in the leg and is being treated at Walter Reed. Enemy forces are believed to have tracked a surveillance drone to the fighters' location before striking. Prince, a Trump ally, has been operating in Congo through Vectus Global, which had previously helped secure the city of Uvira against rebel forces.

Vectus Global declined to comment; neither the Congolese nor Rwandan governments have responded.