Mercenary activity still prevalent

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Use of Mercenaries, Enrique Bernales-Ballesteros, has said Africa remains the continent where mercenaries are most active, with the DRC one of the most-affected countries. According to his latest report on mercenary activities, armed conflict continued in the DRC despite the Lusaka ceasefire accord. “In this connection, it has been reported that mercenary combatants are present on all fronts and in the forces of all the parties,” the report stated. It said the mercenaries’ primary interest appeared to be the diamond centre of Mbuji-Mayi in Kasai Oriental. The international security company, Defence Systems Limited, is said to be working with mercenaries to protect mining and petroleum facilities, the report added. It noted that countries such as DRC, where there was chronic political instability combined with a wealth of natural resources, gave rise to armed conflict which sooner or later attracted mercenaries.