Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) competitor and retired U.S. Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy sustained multiple gunshot wounds during a deadly ambush in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on September 17. The incident, which left approximately 20 people dead or wounded, involved a team working for Vectus Global, a private security company operated by Blackwater founder Erik Prince.
"There were three of them." Brent Tucker, Former Green Beret and Delta Force operator
Kennedy, a prominent figure known for his military career and mixed martial arts, suffered three gunshot wounds to his leg. Following the attack, he was evacuated from the region and is currently receiving medical treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington D.C. The ambush marks the first reported casualties for Vectus Global during its expanding operations in the DRC.
Among the casualties was Justin Conaglen, a former member of New Zealand’s elite Special Air Service, who was killed. Conaglen had recently left the New Zealand military before joining the private security firm. His body has since been returned to Auckland for funeral services. At least seven Congolese individuals were also reported among the dead or wounded.
The circumstances surrounding the September 17 attack remain under dispute. Sources familiar with the Congolese government's perspective suggest that forces backing the M23 rebel movement may have tracked a surveillance drone to the team's location, leading to the ambush. One source indicated that the sophistication of the attack pointed to potential involvement by Rwandan forces, with two other sources directly attributing blame to the Rwandan military. Rwanda has consistently denied supporting the M23 rebels, despite accusations from the United Nations and Western governments. A Congolese security source also noted that villagers might have been among the 20 people killed or wounded.
Brent Tucker, a former Green Beret and Delta Force operator, discussed the incident on his Tier1 Podcast after confirming details. Tucker stated that the ambushed team consisted of only three contractors. He reported that Kennedy was shot multiple times, Conaglen was fatally wounded, and a third unidentified contractor also sustained multiple hits. Tucker described this small group size as unusual for operations in such a dangerous environment. He also claimed that the wounded men were forced to wait between eight and ten hours before being recovered, an allegation that has not been independently verified. Kennedy eventually left the conflict zone via Burundi and Johannesburg before returning to the United States for medical care.
The attack has brought renewed scrutiny to Erik Prince’s growing security operations in the DRC. Prince, an ally and supporter of President Donald Trump, has expanded Vectus Global's activities in the country, assisting the Congolese government with security and military-related work. Initially, Prince’s role reportedly focused on protecting and improving revenue collection from the DRC’s vast mineral wealth, including significant deposits of tantalum, gold, and lithium. The resource-rich eastern Congo has, however, been plagued by decades of armed conflict and instability.
Vectus Global later broadened its scope to include direct security operations. Previous deployments included Prince’s forces in Uvira after the United States facilitated an agreement for Rwanda-backed rebels to withdraw from the strategic city. Reports have estimated the value of Prince’s arrangement with the Congolese government at approximately $700 million. United Nations investigators have also identified what they described as a secret military component within the Vectus Global contract, encompassing border security, military advice, aircraft provision, and the recruitment of former foreign military personnel.
The U.S. State Department has clarified that it does not hold a contract with Erik Prince in Congo. A State Department spokesperson affirmed that the Trump administration’s highest priority is protecting American citizens abroad. The spokesperson also reiterated the administration’s position that there is no military solution to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
For Tim Kennedy, the ambush represents one of the most serious incidents in his post-military career, highlighting the severe risks faced by private security personnel operating in one of Africa's longest and most complex conflicts. The deadly incident underscores the persistent dangers in a region grappling with internal strife and external influence.
