Nearly 300 Romanian mercenaries recruited to support the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army faced a humiliating setback after surrendering to rebels in Goma. Their capture followed a rapid offensive by the M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda.
The mercenaries, contracted at salaries reaching $5,000 per month—far more than the $100 earned by regular Congolese soldiers—had been brought in to train troops and bolster DR Congo’s forces. However, as the fighting escalated, they were forced to retreat to a UN base before eventually being handed over to Rwanda.
Videos from the surrender show an M23 commander berating one of the Romanian fighters, questioning his training and the stark pay disparity between foreign contractors and local soldiers. Some reports suggest that not all recruits had military experience, raising concerns about the effectiveness of DR Congo’s strategy.
The presence of private military companies in the region has been a point of contention, with Rwanda condemning their use and Congolese officials defending them as necessary instructors. However, the rapid collapse of government forces in Goma has highlighted the fractured nature of DR Congo’s military efforts, which also involve regional troops and local militias.
Observers warn that the lack of coordination among these groups has only weakened DR Congo’s position against M23, further complicating an already volatile conflict.
