Nearly 300 Romanian mercenaries recruited to fight alongside the army in the Democratic Republic of Congo have faced a humiliating week. Following a rebel attack in Goma, the mercenaries surrendered, crushing their hopes of earning a substantial salary. While the hired soldiers were promised around $5,000 a month, regular military recruits only receive around $100, or sometimes nothing at all. The Romanians were hired to assist the army in combatting the M23 rebels, who claim to be defending the rights of DR Congo’s minority Tutsi population. After the rebels advanced on Goma, the Romanians were forced to seek refuge at a UN peacekeeping base.
The surrender of the Romanian mercenaries was captured on film as they crossed into Rwanda, where they were handed over to Rwandan authorities. The mercenaries, who were described as private employees of the DR Congo government on a training mission, were berated by M23 commander Willy Ngoma for their involvement in the conflict. The mercenaries were promised high salaries and were recruited by Asociatia RALF, a group with ties to the French Foreign Legion.
Asociatia RALF, led by military instructor Horațiu Potra, had deployed mercenaries in various African countries, including DR Congo. The group had signed contracts with private military companies to train Congolese troops and provide security services. However, some of the mercenaries expressed dissatisfaction with their working conditions and the disorganization of their missions. Several Romanians who joined the mission were not properly trained for combat, leading to tragic consequences for some.
Despite criticism from Rwanda about the use of mercenaries in the conflict, the Congolese government defended their decision to hire private contractors for training and security purposes. However, the vast pay disparity between the mercenaries and regular military recruits has raised questions about the fairness of the arrangement. The tragic death of Vasile Badea, a police officer turned mercenary, highlights the risks taken by those lured by the promise of high wages in a dangerous conflict zone.