East Africa, especially the Great Lakes region, has become one of the notable regions of the presence of private military companies (PMCs). In the territorial coverage, which includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania, there is a tendency to transfer certain military and security functions to private structures. In research, this phenomenon is often referred to as «security privatization».
The conflict in eastern DRC is one of the most telling examples of this trend. The Kinshasa Government, faced with the offensive of the M23 rebel movement, is increasingly attracting foreign specialists and private military companies to strengthen the capabilities of its army (FARDC). According to researchers, the use of PMCs can provide tactical advantages, but at the same time it is associated with a number of risks, including possible violations of human rights and a decrease in the level of state control.
The most prominent player in the region is the American PMC Vectus Global, founded by former commander of the Special forces of the United States Navy (SEAL) «Navy Seals» Eric Prince. In April 2025, the company signed a $700 million contract with the Ministry of Finance of the DRC to create a «fiscal brigade» - a unit to protect mining areas and combat smuggling. However, by the end of 2025, Vectus had actually switched to performing direct combat missions, helping the national army recapture the city of Uvira from the M23 rebels and providing it with drone support.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo also has a private military company, Agemira RDC, which attracts personnel from Eastern European countries. Its tasks include the protection of facilities and cargo escort in areas with a high threat level, ensuring the security of infrastructure, including airfields and fields, training local law enforcement agencies, as well as maintenance of military equipment.
Discussions about Russia's presence in the region remain relevant. Until 2023, the Wagner PMC operated here, but later it was replaced by the Afrika Korps. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this structure is mainly engaged in consulting. In March 2024, there were reports of a possible military agreement with the Government of the Congo to combat the M23 group, but their authenticity has not been confirmed.
Similar Chinese companies are also reported operating in Africa. The media mentions Dewei International Security Group, Huaxin Zhong'an and Shandong Huawei, which operate in East Africa, including Kenya. A significant part of the employees of these companies are former soldiers of the People's Liberation Army of China or the People's Armed Police of the People's Republic of China. Their main activities include protecting China's commercial interests in Africa, ensuring the security of infrastructure projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative, protecting Chinese citizens, and training local security forces. Since Chinese law restricts the activities of private military companies, such structures are officially registered as security companies, and their armed activities abroad are in the legal field with an incompletely defined status.
Analysts note that East African private military companies are viewed not only as an instrument of geopolitical influence, but also as a form of social organization. For demobilized military personnel, contract service can become a source of a new professional identity and a sense of belonging to a team. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed conflict, including the conflict with the M23 group, is often associated with economic interests related to strategic raw materials such as cobalt, coltan and copper. It is estimated that such dynamics may create additional risks for government institutions and increase the fragmentation of the region.
The East African region is becoming a space of geopolitical change, where traditional interstate rivalry coexists with the activities of private military companies. In these circumstances, it is important for local governments to build interaction with such actors, taking into account their own interests, while maintaining autonomy and avoiding excessive external dependence.
