Congo’s European Shadow Soldiers

The contractors, led by French-Romanian citizens Horatiu Potra, some of whom had no military experience, actively participated in military operations in DR Congo’s North Kivu region. Four of them died in combat. The contractors also armed and financed sanctioned militia groups accused of war crimes. Leading legal and military experts who reviewed evidence gathered during this investigation have classified them as ‘mercenaries’ and stated that those with French citizenship, including Potra, could face prosecution in France.

Many of the contractors had backgrounds in Romanian security structures such as the military, police, or gendarmerie. Dissilusioned with the salaries and the system, they took false leave to go to Goma but kept their government jobs. Others were supermarket security guards, lorry drivers, or border guards, who according to colleagues report that they either fled after the first shots were fired or put other contractors at risk due to their lack of military training.

The investigation also revealed that Potra, the leader of the company, used a complex network of companies, some based in tax havens, and close associates to conceal the source of the money he received from the Congolese government. He invested them in real estate assets in Romania. One of Potra’s recently acquired properties is a villa right next to the headquarters of the Romanian Ministry of Defence's institutions dealing with relations with foreign armies.

Potra, who is politically active in Romania and has run for mayor and parliament, has had numerous brushes with the law but has always evaded charges. The investigation found links between him and people with power in Romania, including current and former judges in Romania’s highest court, political figures, mafia groups and business owners.

This year-long investigation obtained leaked WhatsApp chats, audio recordings, videos, contracts, company and land registry documents, court records, and testimonies from contractors, prosecutors and police, paramilitary groups, legal and military experts, UN officials, and diplomats. This evidence provides a detailed account of the recruitment, operations, and deployment of contractors to DR Congo, as well as their leader’s wealth, political connections, and assets. The cross-border team reported from across DR Congo, Romania, Moldova and France.

Photo Credit: Emmet Livingstone