The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is significantly upgrading its ground forces through the acquisition of over 100 armoured vehicles from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking one of Kinshasa’s largest recent military procurements.
According to Military Africa, the shipment, sourced from Abu Dhabi-based defence contractor International Golden Group, includes around 160 Kasser II mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs).
Designed for high-risk conflict zones like eastern Congo, the Kasser II offers multirole capabilities, functioning as both an armoured personnel carrier and a blast-resistant combat platform.
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Certain variants are reported to be fitted with heavier armaments—such as 20 mm cannons and 12.7 mm machine guns—to enhance battlefield performance.
The $70 million deal has so far seen partial deliveries, including 50 units in initial shipments and another 30 that arrived at the port of Matadi, Kongo-Central province, in May 2025.
The purchase comes amid ongoing instability in the DRC’s eastern provinces, where multiple armed groups continue to challenge government control despite prolonged counterinsurgency operations.
The DRC government frames this deal as part of its broader military modernisation strategy to secure volatile territories
However, the UAE’s growing role in African security affairs has not been without controversy.
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Abu Dhabi has faced international scrutiny over alleged arms transfers to non-state actors in other African conflicts, most notably accusations—denied by the UAE—of supplying weapons to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the main rival to Sudan’s army in the country’s civil war UN Reports.
Critics warn that while the DRC’s partnership with the UAE could bring much-needed military capability, it also risks diplomatic complications given the UAE’s contested reputation in regional conflicts.
Kinshasa appears to be prioritising immediate defence needs over potential reputational fallout, following a trend among African states turning to the UAE for rapid delivery of advanced military hardware and political backing where traditional Western suppliers may be slower to act.
This move underlines a pragmatic if not politically sensitive shift in African defence partnerships toward Gulf states with strategic ambitions on the continent.
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