KINSHASA, DRC — A tangled web of military contracts, international intrigue, and financial fallout has emerged in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a mysterious arms deal gone awry has led to the secretive detention of a foreign businessman and a demand for millions in restitution.

Lebanese-born arms broker Dani al-Achkar has reportedly been held incommunicado by the Congolese military intelligence since April 2025, following the collapse of an arms deal reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars. The case, cloaked in secrecy, underscores the growing tension between the DRC government and private international arms dealers, as well as the risks surrounding opaque procurement processes in Africa’s defense sector.

According to sources close to the matter, the DRC’s Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Defence is now actively seeking the return of an $18 million deposit—money that was advanced as part of a major weapons acquisition contract that never materialized. While full details of the transaction remain classified, government officials confirm that the contract was not fulfilled, and no arms were delivered to Kinshasa.

Military intelligence operatives reportedly detained Al-Achkar without formal charges or public acknowledgment, raising questions about the legality of his confinement and the Congolese state’s handling of foreign defense contractors. Human rights advocates warn that his prolonged incommunicado detention could amount to a violation of international law, though Congolese authorities maintain that national security concerns justify the secrecy.

The situation highlights the fragile nature of international arms contracts in Africa, where national governments often rely on murky private intermediaries to procure military equipment in a hurry. It also casts a spotlight on Kinshasa’s recent efforts to modernize its military infrastructure amid growing insecurity in the eastern regions of the country.

For Pan-African observers, this case is a powerful reminder of the need for transparency, due diligence, and institutional oversight in the defense procurement space—especially when billions of public dollars are at stake.

The government has not announced a timeline for Al-Achkar’s potential release or whether criminal proceedings will be initiated. Meanwhile, sources suggest back-channel negotiations are underway to recover the missing funds, with pressure mounting from within the DRC’s political and security establishments.

This unfolding drama in Kinshasa touches on issues of sovereignty, corruption, accountability, and the high-stakes world of international arms dealing—an industry where blurred lines can lead to explosive consequences.