Former UFC fighter Tim Kennedy was shot while working private security for in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Per a report from Reuters, Kennedy was working under contract for Vectus Global, a private security and logistics company. Per the report, in mid-September, Kennedy’s team was ambushed by enemy forces, leading to 20 casualties, with seven deaths. Kennedy was shot three times in the leg, but survived the attack and is now being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.
Vectus Global was founded by Erik Prince, who also founded Blackwater, a controversial private military contractor which came to prominence during the Iraq War before being disbanded. Vectus Global reportedly signed a deal worth $300-$400 million for a five-year agreement to secure mining operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is now reportedly in negotiations to provide technical and logistical support for Congo’s military aircraft and drones.
Kennedy is also a former member of the United States Army Special Forces, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also a former Strikeforce and UFC fighter, and challenged for the Strikeforce middleweight title twice, failing on both occasions. He retired from MMA in 2017.