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News & Current Events Apr 27, 2026 at 3:38 PM

Congo creates a paramilitary mining guard backed by US and UAE funding

Posted by AudibleNod

Congo creates a paramilitary mining guard backed by US and UAE funding
AP News
Congo creates a paramilitary mining guard backed by US and UAE funding
Congo has announced the creation of a paramilitary guard to secure its mining operations, backed by U.S. and Emirati investments.
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Acceptable-Peace-69 Apr 27, 2026 +465
What could possibly go wrong?
465
AudibleNod Apr 27, 2026 +230
[Exclusive: US firm in key Congo minerals deal overstated its mining experience, documents and sources show](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-firm-key-congo-minerals-deal-overstated-its-mining-experience-documents-2026-04-21/) >One expert said that Virtus' track record in mining raises questions about the transparency of the U.S.-DRC partnership and whether due diligence was conducted. They want to field a 20,000-man army to 'secure' mining fields. >Virtus is led by Braun, a U.S. Army Green Beret veteran, and Andrew Powch, a former U.S. Navy officer. Braun did not respond to a request for ‌comment and Powch ⁠declined to provide on-record comment on the findings of this article. A leadership team from the military isn't abnormal in and of itself. Lots of firms hire veterans for their leadership experience. But they started the outfit, lied about their experience and have Trump backing. >The U.S. State Department, which handles media inquiries for the now-defunct USAID, did not respond to requests for comment on the agency's dealings with ROK Metals. Par for the course for Sub-Saharan Africa, I'm afraid.
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porcupinedeath Apr 27, 2026 +135
Mm so Wagner Group: American Branch in the making then it seems
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mstrbwl Apr 27, 2026 +86
We've had these mercenary companies for a looooong time at this point. Wagner was kind of late to the game if anything.
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Cetun Apr 27, 2026 +36
I think he's referring to the fact the leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, held various odd jobs including burgler, elementary school coach, C***** CEO, hotdog seller, restaurateur and only real qualifications for running a PMC was that he just had close connections with the Kremlin. So they are saying that the scenario here is that the founders of Virtus similarly have very qualifications running a small army other than they know some people in the White House.
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Osiris32 Apr 27, 2026 +34
Oh Prigy. What a weird little man you were. Rose from nothing to run a private army, invade multiple countries, become a legitimate threat to the Russian government for about 24 hours, and then ate a missile while stupidly flying in Russia.
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Cetun Apr 28, 2026 +9
His story is the story of Russian Forrest Gump if I've ever heard one.
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Osiris32 Apr 28, 2026 +10
Life is like a bowl of Goulash.
10
The_Maddest_Scorp Apr 28, 2026 +2
"Life is like a bowl of borscht, you always get nothing in the end..."
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usemyfaceasaurinal Apr 27, 2026 +6
Regardless of your personal opinions of the man, that’s quite the resume.
6
Starfox-sf Apr 27, 2026 +6
Chef’s Kiss
6
Muted_Woodpecker9585 Apr 27, 2026 +17
Funding future terror groups
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denver_and_life Apr 27, 2026 +5
This makes it sound like the prequel to Avatar..
5
thelingeringlead Apr 27, 2026 +8
Yeah we've never had a single bad thing happen by pumping money into paramilitaries in struggling wartorn countries to protect us from being overwhelmed by or fight against the other paramilitaries.
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Altruistic-Car2880 Apr 27, 2026 +6
Anybody seen Erik Prince lately?
6
Dangerous_Golf_7417 Apr 27, 2026 +1
Last I saw he was flying drones around Haiti
1
Fedora_Million_Ankle Apr 27, 2026 +2
And then... Things got worse.
2
Acceptable-Peace-69 Apr 27, 2026 +4
Only for the locals…
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Ragnarawr Apr 27, 2026 +1
Oh shit, isn’t this exactly what that murderous Wagner group did?
1
[deleted] Apr 27, 2026 -13
[deleted]
-13
Iron-Fist Apr 27, 2026 +10
>no good short term solution Really? Cuz China has increased their imports from DRC from $4 billion in 2019 to $24 billion (over 1/3 of the country's total GDP) in 2024. Theyve been building roads and rail and hospitals since 2007 in exchange for stakes in 80% of the cobalt mines in the country. They also built out their entire copper refining industry, literally 80% of which is owned by Chinese firms in public-private partnership deals. Their production has literally 10x since 2010. Refined copper is now their primary export, not raw cobalt (China imports like 19b of refined copper from them vs 3b in cobalt concentrate/ore). And now they have a deal getting around US pressure. This article also mentions why you are seeing this kind of fly by night company from the US: they are getting like 30 billion in funding to set up "alternate supply chains" around China and are doing their best to embezzle as much as possible. https://prospect-intel.com/china-cements-drc-minerals-pact-amid-intensifying-u-s-rivalry/
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sofixa11 Apr 27, 2026 -1
Those things do not tackle the security issues though. Parts of the east are controlled by Rwanda-backed paramilitaries. So yes, DRC is incapable of providing security for its territory.
-1
Ok-Bunch6107 Apr 27, 2026 -2
People just say anything on this website
-2
One_Weird2371 Apr 27, 2026 -2
Yeah nothing ever goes wrong in the Congo
-2
AudibleNod Apr 27, 2026 +156
>The $100 million program is funded through partnerships with the United States and United Arab Emirates, the statement said. A US-backed paramilitary group operating in the Congo wasn't on my 2026 Bingo card. >Washington is trying to reduce China’s dominance over critical mineral supply chains. Congo and the U.S. signed a minerals partnership last year under which American firm Virtus Minerals has taken over copper-cobalt miner Chemaf. Virtus Minerals's CEO is a former Green Beret. I'm not saying that Green Berets can't lead a mining operation in Africa. I'm just saying that if I wanted to take over a country militarily, I'd probably pick a Green Beret over a mining executive.
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SomewhereNo8378 Apr 27, 2026 +83
really? US backed paramilitaries is like table stakes anywhere across the world
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Iron-Fist Apr 27, 2026 +18
Just for reference, congo does like 24 billion in trade with China (about 1/3 of GDP) vs 2 billion with the US. China operates/partnership owns 80% of their copper industry and has grown it 10x since 2010. Theyve been investing in roads/rail/hospitals etc since 2007. And don't even get started on ROC rather than DRC, brazzaville got like 20 billion in BRI money aiming to increase oil export to 200k bpd, which at current prices would give them like 10% GDP growth for a decade...
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Lucius-Halthier Apr 27, 2026 +27
He’s been using illegal mines like this and in South America to bring gold into the US, we always had a policy to not import gold for the reserve because it fueled human rights abuses. Of course he does this because he gets off of human suffering
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No_Wrongdoer466 Apr 27, 2026 +2
Knowing maga i bet all our gold is missing
2
Lirael_Gold Apr 27, 2026 +3
I'll just point out that Green Beret > CIA SAC is not an unusual change of career. in fact it's kinda sorta a direct pipeline.
3
grafknives Apr 27, 2026 +79
More like slave patrols
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bighairybeardudee Apr 27, 2026 +15
Didn’t we the US just send a few thousand captured immigrants to the Congo free of charge recently?
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impulsekash Apr 27, 2026 +15
Colonial army.
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SpeshellED Apr 27, 2026 +6
US actively working to steal resourced from Congo.
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Wafkak Apr 27, 2026 +4
Its a complicated situation, as currently Rwanda has trade deals for a bunch of minerale that aren't found kn Rwanda. While suspicious in the Congolese area these can be mined Rwandan backend milities have been mass murdering the local population.
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lu5ty Apr 27, 2026 -15
Pretty sure working in a mine is one of the better jobs in the Congo
-15
chef-nom-nom Apr 27, 2026 +20
Long history of abuse there. It once had a hands-for-bullets program.
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lu5ty Apr 27, 2026 -7
Oh yea its a total clusterfuck for sure
-7
Wafkak Apr 27, 2026 +2
In some yes, in other areas they are basically sholder with holes you crawl in with hand tools and a bandana for protection. And your pay is your family gets just enough food to not starve.
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Greyy385 Apr 27, 2026 +65
and they tell us colonialism ended
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Low_Pickle_112 Apr 27, 2026 +26
When this ends as predicted, some smug, racist economist will explain that the Congolese are just genetically infer.....I mean, have a "resource curse", and that's why it's all their fault and has nothing to do with centuries of colonialism.
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Bitter_Tea442 Apr 27, 2026 -2
That's why we call it neo-colonialism when China does it and colonialism when we do it.
-2
ops10 Apr 28, 2026 +1
Sadly we call it neo-colonialism when France does it and investments when China does it.
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Jaxxlack Apr 27, 2026 -21
Hey hey hey... Dont bring Europe into this... All American...
-21
unfortunateshun Apr 27, 2026 +19
It’s literally the Congo. History doesn’t just magically stop being relevant when it’s a different country
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[deleted] Apr 27, 2026 -5
[removed]
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unfortunateshun Apr 27, 2026 +7
That just isn’t how history works, same way when the US intervenes to destabilize a place and then other European colonizers come in after and benefit from the same system of oppression Americans don’t get to say “we have nothing to do with that.” This idea that these colonials powers don’t collude and directly benefit from the actions of the others is extremely childish. Belgium destabilized the Congo and created the environment that other colonizers benefit from, including Americans, Europeans, and China. Pointing out someone else’s responsibility doesn’t magically absolve the other parties? I’ve never understood why people jump to that conclusion all the time. F*** em both
7
Disastrous-Tone-7669 Apr 27, 2026 +9
"We learned it from you, dad. We learned it from you"
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Jaxxlack Apr 27, 2026 -11
Pahhhno you didn't...
-11
xThe_Mad_Fapperx Apr 27, 2026 +3
King Leopold II
3
Greyy385 Apr 27, 2026 +1
technically most americans are europeans lol. at least compared to me
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Ser_Daniel_The_1st Apr 27, 2026 +2
That’s a fair point however they seem so detached from us they hardly qualify as Europeans. On a societal and political level. Not in any other way.
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Jaxxlack Apr 27, 2026 -3
Technically? So you're not American?
-3
BartHarleyJarvis- Apr 27, 2026 +3
He's definitely more American than 96% of us.
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Jaxxlack Apr 27, 2026 +3
If you're an American citizen...ya American... Not African...not European... American... Born in it lived in it .know it.. why do all you think that ya skin makes you not American... Cos if you left America you'd be surprised you're not who you want to be called...just like British don't say "Ex British" when talking about the USA lol
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BartHarleyJarvis- Apr 27, 2026 +1
Cause Americans don't think like Brits? When an American asks, "Where are you from?" They are likely asking about ones ethic background. Yes, if we left travel abroad we will refer to ourselves as American. But in America, people take it a step further and reference their ethnic background. Mr Grey is Native American meaning his people are indigenous to this continent. Lots Americans are only a few generation deep. His people have been here since before there was any type of detailed record keeping like that.
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Jaxxlack Apr 27, 2026 +3
But that's still Internal thing, outside your borders.. Americans are different races... If we begin to go off generations then things get really messy..
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BartHarleyJarvis- Apr 27, 2026 +1
Yeah I get it. But the point is, Mr Grey is Native American. He wasn't talking about his national identity.
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Jaxxlack Apr 27, 2026 +3
But that still doesn't remove the fact all the involvement is American.. Latin American, African Americans, Asian Americans.. native American.. just because a large percentage have ancestry from other nations.. doesn't make those ancestors complacent in current events? We can't blame India for something Pakistan has done because at one point they were one nation.
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spark3h Apr 27, 2026 +23
"Guarding" the mines AKA making sure the slaves don't leave.
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PregnantGoku1312 Apr 27, 2026 +6
Well *that* certainly doesn't have a wide variety of appalling historical precedents...
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xynith116 Apr 27, 2026 +5
UAE funding? The same UAE asking for a bailout from the US?
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riedmae Apr 27, 2026 +4
Yeah, f*** meals on wheels and pediatric cancer research in the US.....**this** is where middle americas taxes should be going
4
wolfonweed Apr 27, 2026 +10
for those confused, the article & title fail to sufficiently associate this decision with current government of Rwanda. This situation makes no sense from a US-centric perspective, but is entirely predictable with a Central Africa-centric perspective. This is the most recent move in a series of extremely interesting moves in this region, all underpinned by and in response to the escalating international situation between the DRC and Rwanda. Bottom line; this is a move to stabilize the region by disincentivizing Rwanda from exercising one of the most interesting geopolitical opportunities of this decade. I only mean interesting in that it would attract a lot of interest, not that it's good. In fact, exercising this opportunity would probably lead to one of the most calamitous disasters to take place in Africa since the second Congo War (which took place in the exact same location we are talking about now.)
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ClawingDevil Apr 27, 2026 +19
And this is why countries are now picking China to do deals with...
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I_Push_Buttonz Apr 27, 2026 +2
Lol China has a stake in or outright owns almost all of the mines these forces would be protecting and has already been engaging in this variety of security cooperation with the DRC for over a decade. All the US is doing is trying to get a piece of China's action.
2
MovieGuyMike Apr 28, 2026 +1
USA is bringing a stick while China brings carrots.
1
ops10 Apr 28, 2026 +1
Oh boy you haven't seen some of the beating videos, have you.
1
ArchAngel621 Apr 27, 2026 +12
??? Isn't this where we sent all the deportees?
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June_Fatality Apr 27, 2026 +10
Human trafficking and slave labor. Thank a trump voter.
10
pleated_pants Apr 27, 2026 +3
Frederick Forsyth just missing the opportunity to write a follow up to The Dogs of War.
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tavo791 Apr 27, 2026 +3
Are they ensuring slave don't escape?
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sks010 Apr 27, 2026 +2
He better be careful how he goes about cleaning things up. Someone might decide Congo needs some freedom if he starts managing things in the interests of his country and his people instead of foreign countries and corps.
2
tyraywilson Apr 27, 2026 +2
Surely it's moral, non-exploitative, and they have the best of intentions....right?......
2
thrownehwah Apr 27, 2026 +2
Sounds like another Blair mountain in disguise
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MovieGuyMike Apr 28, 2026 +2
Sounds like hell on earth.
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Kazimierzowska Apr 28, 2026 +2
Just so disgraceful and disgusting—raping and pillaging without justification other than greed.
2
SleepingToDreaming Apr 27, 2026 +3
Nothing new here; 'MURICA has been heavily exploiiting, ripping away and agriculturally destroying Africa for almost a century.
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ThatGuy8754 Apr 27, 2026 +3
Why can’t we collectively realize that the 3rd world has so much poverty BECAUSE of western imperialism?? The cycle of violent coups and bloodthirsty warmongers only ends when we lift the world up
3
baseketball Apr 27, 2026 +4
Our own Wagner group. This is going to end well.
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BiteYourThumbAtMeSir Apr 27, 2026 +4
very nice to see that we've decided to ape russia's geopolitical playbook: - transform the metropole into a corrupt hellhole - attempt to destroy the EU and NATO - get into half-baked wars predicated on tactically unsound thunderruns, and when that goes t***-up we attempt to terrorbomb the civilian population into submission - NOW we interfere in african affairs using PMCs
4
Finn-reddit Apr 27, 2026 +2
You could almost say the current administration is on Putin's payroll. Almost. For this to be the case they would need to commit treason. Which would be giving aid to US enemies, like a country that has helped kill US citizens. Giving aid could be something like lifting trade sanctions against said country.
2
fuck-nazi Apr 27, 2026 +1
Guess maybe the afghan nationals the US is betraying can find work?
1
Particular_Ticket_20 Apr 27, 2026 +3
Look...this time we're not cutting off hands, killing laborers, acting as muscle for the owners...none of that. This time the mercenaries and military will only protect the resources and investments* *Protecting miners and local people not included. Protecting resources may be harmful to labor.
3
cartman101 Apr 27, 2026 +1
Mad Mike Hoare is so back.
1
revelm Apr 28, 2026 +1
"somehow, also my money"
1
alien2sick Apr 27, 2026 +1
Creating another armed group smh
1
Verum_Orbis Apr 27, 2026 +1
Belgian Congo [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian\_Congo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Congo) Congo Free State [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo\_Free\_State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Free_State)
1
antizana Apr 27, 2026 +1
Got to spin up some employment opportunities for all of the Afghans who assisted US troops who are now going to be deported there
1
foolmetwiceagain Apr 27, 2026 +1
This is all well and good, but what happens when Solo and the Wookie try to claim a shipment, only to face the Cloud-Riders trying to do the same? I fear we will need more Empire resources than this to protect our valuable minerals that drive our most critical technologies.
1
strugglz Apr 27, 2026
On par for Trump and GOP that we can fund this but not send food to places that need it.
0
CircumcisedSpine Apr 27, 2026
Cool. Creating our own armed Congolese mining cartel... so we can make investors happy. And we did it with a Gulf state partner. How American.
0
ThePensiveE Apr 27, 2026
American Wagner for the American Taliban.
0
T1mberVVolf Apr 28, 2026
Ah, finally. The American version of Wagner.
0
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