Romanian security contractors surrender to Rwanda

Dozens of Romanian security contractors have surrendered to Rwandan authorities after intense fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On Wednesday, they crossed into Rwanda following days of deadly combat, as Rwandan-backed fighters seized control of the strategic city of Goma.

The contractors, many dressed in casual clothing, calmly walked into Rwanda at the Gisenyi border post. Armed Rwandan soldiers, assisted by sniffer dogs, inspected their belongings before conducting thorough searches and registering them.

“We weren’t on a battlefield, we were here to train and help with artillery,” said Emil, one of the contractors, in an interview with AFP. Over 280 Romanian personnel, working alongside Congolese forces, surrendered to M23 rebels in Gisenyi.

Rwandan officials reported the surrender on social media, while the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it was in the process of evacuating its citizens from the volatile region. The situation had deteriorated rapidly, prompting Romania’s crisis unit to take action.

According to Constantin Timofte, leader of the contractors, four Romanians were injured during the fighting. He stated that the Congolese national army had abandoned the battle, forcing their retreat.

Since late 2022, around 1,000 Western soldiers, including those from two private military companies, have been stationed in Goma. One of the companies, Congo Protection, is managed by Horatiu Potra, a former French Foreign Legion member. Their primary mission included training Congolese forces and protecting Goma but also involved active combat with rebels.

The fighting in the region has intensified, with foreign military contractors increasingly engaged in the conflict alongside local forces.

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