Dr. Congo’s gambling failure to Romanian mercenaries failed


Ian WaFula

African security correspondent, BBC News

EPA Romanian mercenaries-not wearing uniforms-in the rain in the Rwanda security personnel on the border, one of them raised his hand-January 29, 2025, Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, WednesdayEPA

Nearly 300 Romanian mercenaries recruited nearly 300 Romanian mercenaries while recruiting the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was a humiliation week.

They surrendered after the rebellion of Goma in the East City, and also destroyed the dream of those who signed the job to make a lot of money.

The contract seen by the Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) shows that the monthly salary of these soldiers is about $ 5,000 (£ 4,000), while the income of conventional military recruits is about $ 100, or sometimes unpaid.

The Romanians were fighting the M23 rebels supported by the contract with the contract with the contract, and they said they were trying to protect the rights of Tutsis, a minority of the Congo Dr. Tutsis.

When Gama’s attack began on Sunday evening, the Romanians were forced to take refuge in the United Nations to maintain a peaceful base.

“The M23 rebels received the support of Rwanda’s troops and the most advanced military equipment, and managed to reach the position of Goma City,” Constantin Timofti was described as the coordinator of the organization. He told the Romanian TVR channel. on Monday.

“The National Army gave up fighting, and we were forced to withdraw.”

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Andrei Publishing House told the Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that he then conducted a “complex” negotiation. He transferred M23 to Romanian combatants who described it as a private employee of the Congo government, and Implementing military training tasks-RWANDA.

Goma was sitting on the border with Rwanda-the mercenaries were taken by the reporter out of date, surrendering the body search and other examinations.

Before they crossed, the telephone video showed that the M23 commander Willy Ngoma accused one of the Romanians with French, told him to sit on the ground, cross his legs, and put his hands on his head.

The Romanians replied that he asked him for military training-he was in the French Foreign Legion.

“They recruit you at a salary of $ 8,000 per month, you eat well.” Ngoma shoutPoint out the difference between the salary of the Congo army recruits.

He warned: “We are fighting for the future. Don’t come here to take risks.”

A Agence France -Presse photo shot from a vehicle shows a mercenary hiring military fatigue, while the black backpack is walking along the road northwest of Goma. Behind him is a Congo Army truck with guns on it. There are also two male civilians in the picture to-January 23, 2025Agence

The mercenaries are working with the Congo Army-I saw here in the northwestern part of Goma in January

It is unclear where NGOMA has obtained a number of $ 8,000, but the previous Romanian mercenaries explained in detail the contract displayed to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in October, the “strict secret compensation” of senior personnel starts per month during the active duty price It is $ 5,000 and $ 3,000 during vacation.

The agreement outlines the “unlimited service”, and the contractor plans to rest for one month after deploying each three months.

I met the front nuclear of the Romanian capital Bravhat, where I studied ASOCIATIA RALF. A group of United Nations experts said that this is a Romanian company and “the former Romans of the French Foreign Legion.”

It was led by Romanian Horațiu Potra, who described himself as a military coach.

During the Goma (GOMA), I noticed the mercenary of the inspection station and deployed around the city to work closely with the Army.

In the past three years, others have reported that they have seen them driving the Congo army in the Army vehicle.

Horațiu Potra Horațiu Potra In military fatigue, the gun rack is in front of a class full of Congo soldiersHorațiu Potra

Horațiu Potra plays a core role while training Dr. Congo’s training unit

“When they arrived, everyone called them Russians,” Fiston Mahamba, co -founder of the “False Information” Group Chect Congo, told BBC.

“I think this is related to the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, and in several African countries.”

In fact, ASOCIATIA RALF may also work in Africa-its contract stipulates that it has a variety of “operating places”, including “Burkina Faso, Dr. Congo, Congo Ph.D., ivory Coast, Nigar, Senegal, Sierra Leine, Gambia and Guinea”. ” Essence

UN experts said that shortly after the M23 re -assembled and began to occupy territory in North Kivu, the two private military companies were sent to their troops in 2022.

For decades, the province has been unstable. Many militia have made money there, such as Gold and Koltan-used to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones.

The first company signed is Agemira RDC, led by the French-Olivier Bazin, the national-rule national Olivier Bazin. Experts said the company hired Bulgarians, Belarus, George Asia, Algeria, France and the Congo nationals.

The task of this set of clothing is to refurbish and increase the military air assets of Dr. Congo, repair the airport, and ensure the physical safety of the aircraft and other strategic locations.

The second contract signed between the Congo Congo Company and Asociatia Ralf, represented by Thierry Kongolo.

According to the United Nations experts, the contract specifies the ASOCiaatia Ralf in providing security management services with professional knowledge and rich experience.

It will provide training and guidance to the 300 coaches, many of the Romanian special teams to provide training and guidance for the Congo army on the ground.

When I talked with Mr. Potra in July, when he talked about the degree of his group participating in the ground and whether he participated in the battle, he said, “We must protect ourselves. If M23 attacks us, they will simply say: ‘Oh, oh, you, you, you, you, you, you Just the coach-go home. “

Mr. Potra has been practicing in the doctoral mission of the Congo, until a few months ago he returned to Romania-has been involved in the controversy since then The presidential election was abolished thereEssence

He was greatly arrested in December, and since then he thought it was the Russia’s extreme right -wing candidate CăLingeorgeScu provided security. Since October, he refused to return to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The former old class in the first decade and later talked with the Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) under anonymous. He said that he resigned because he was dissatisfied with the operation of Asociatia Ralf.

He said that the Romanians did more on the ground in the province of Beijiwo: “Only very few of us are actually coaches.

“Our working time is up to 12 hours, and we have guarded a key position outside Goma.”

He insisted that pay is not worthy of the risks that military contractors must bear.

“The task is messy and the working conditions are poor. The Romanians should stop there because it is dangerous.”

He also claimed that he had not conducted appropriate background investigations, and some Romanian recruits did not have military training-an example shows that one of his former colleagues was a firefighter.

Dr. Congo’s government has not responded to the BBC request to conduct a background investigation, or the salary difference between the private contractor and the Congo force.

The family of Vasile Badea was one of the two Romanians in February last year. At that time, an Army team was ambushed by the M23 combatant in front line near GOMA. ambush.

The 46 -year -old young man took a vacation from the troops due to the salary of favorable cocoa and played a role in the doctorate of the Congo.

The policeman is trying to pay for the apartment he just got, and more money is needed.

Vasile Badea family, Vasile Badea, takes a Ph.D. at the same time. He has a gray beard, cut tightly, almost bald and square scarf. Behind him, you can see other mercenaries and members of the Congo armed forces-all have guns.Vasile Badea family

Vasile Badea (Vasile Badea) was killed in the Congo last year.

The prospect of paying more high -paying work has attracted more Romanians.

In October, I met a man in Bucharest. He returned home and was looking for more recruits to go to Goma. He has a military background and has a trip to NATO in Afghanistan with the Romanian army.

The mercenary said to the Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): “We are very busy looking for 800 people to prepare for work and know how to fight.”

He said he did not work for Asociatia Ralf, but refused to say his clothes with him.

He explained: “The recruits will be placed in the position corresponding to the training level, earning $ 400- $ 550 every day.”

When asked about the recruitment process, he emphasized its secrets.

He said: “Such work is not released anywhere.” He added that the network like WhatsApp is the first choice.

He showed me a WhatsApp group, of which more than 300 Romanians signed a contract, many of them were former military personnel.

In June last year, the Rwida government spokesman Yolande Makolo involved the existence of the mercenary of the Congo Dr., saying that it violated the Geneva Convention and prohibited the use of hired combatants.

In response, the Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya rejected his so -called Rwida complaints.

He said to the Broadcasting Corporation: “We have some lecturers to train the army because we know that we have such an emergency.”

Most of the Reuters Congo Soldiers, wearing fatigue and gums boots, sitting on the floor of a room in RwandaReuters

The Congo soldiers receive about $ 100 a month-a recruit told BBC that the salary of British Broadcasting Corporation usually does not pay or delay

But a Congo soldier I met in June expressed frustration about the army’s strategy.

Under anonymous conditions, he said to the BBC: “Salary is unfair. In terms of battle, we are the front line first.”

“They (mercenaries) can only be used as a reserve.”

He confirmed that his salary was about $ 100 per month, but was often delayed or unpaid.

A week ago, I was in contact with him for the last time, when he confirmed that he was still in Kima near Goma, who was still in the Army.

“Things are very bad,” he said to me in my voice notes.

Since then, I have been unable to catch him-since, the Kibati base has been occupied by M23, and many soldiers have been killed, including his commander.

Observer said that Gama quickly fell into the rupture defense strategy of Dr. Congo. There, the overlapping power and the blurred direct line finally played the M23’s hands.

Richard Moncrief, director of the project director of the International Crisis Group, pointed out that the Congo army worked with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) forces with the mercenaries. The army was a local militia. Called Wazalendo and Burundi soldiers.

He said to the Broadcasting Corporation: “This has caused impossible to plan military crimes.”

“I think it is important to work harder to work harder in North Kivu’s armed efforts. This is important, which may involve reducing the number of local armed groups or armed actors.”

For the previous core, the fate of his former Romanian colleagues was not surprising.

He said to the Broadcasting Corporation: “Poor orders lead to failure.”

More information about the conflict of Dr. Congo:

Getty Images/BBC women watch her mobile phone and graphic BBC news AfricaGetty Images/BBC



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