A shocking revelation has emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): foreign mercenaries have been seen wearing MONUSCO-branded caps and attire, raising serious concerns about the UN peacekeeping mission’s credibility.
The images, which have surfaced online, show groups of muscular, military-aged men—some in MONUSCO caps, others in t-shirts linked to FARDC special forces—walking through what appears to be a secure area. While they are unarmed, their appearance and presence raise troubling questions about MONUSCO’s neutrality and its alleged collaboration with private military actors.
For over 30 years, MONUSCO has operated in the DRC with an annual budget of nearly $1 billion. Its mandate has always been clear: to restore peace and protect civilians. But for millions of Congolese, the mission has instead become a symbol of failure. Now, with evidence suggesting that MONUSCO may have allowed or even facilitated the presence of mercenaries, that failure is turning into a full-blown scandal.
In one of the most striking images, a bearded man in a MONUSCO cap looks directly into the camera, blending seamlessly with UN personnel. In another, a line of men in tan shirts with a skull-emblazoned emblem marches in formation, suggesting a high level of discipline and coordination. Their attire, particularly the t-shirts with FARDC special forces insignia, suggests deep ties not only to MONUSCO but also to the Congolese military.
The implications are enormous. For years, the Congolese people have accused MONUSCO of inaction—failing to prevent massacres, sexual violence, and the displacement of millions. Protests against the mission have erupted in cities like Goma, Bukavu, and Beni, with locals demanding its withdrawal. Now, the revelation that mercenaries were moving freely in MONUSCO uniforms adds another layer of outrage.
“These are mercenaries. The pictures speak for themselves, we don’t need to ask anything,” an official in Kigali told Taarifa when asked if Rwanda has asked the UN about the scenario.
A resident of Goma, who has lived under the shadow of war for decades, voiced the anger of many: “Every year, MONUSCO gets a billion dollars. But we still get killed, our women still get raped, our villages still burn. Now we see mercenaries in their uniforms? What kind of peacekeeping is this?”
A diplomat in Kigali, who requested anonymity, described the scandal as a devastating blow to MONUSCO’s already fragile reputation. “For a mission that has spent billions with little to show for it, this revelation could be its undoing. If MONUSCO does not immediately provide transparent answers, it risks confirming what many have long suspected—that it is not here to bring peace, but to manage a never-ending conflict at the expense of those who suffer the most.”