The Guardian • 14th March 2025

Supermarket guards, truck drivers and ‘very big mistakes’: the failed role of western mercenaries in the fall of Goma

An investigation into Romanian mercenaries in DRC reveals how a disorganised operation with untrained recruits became a deadly ‘circus’.

POLITICO • 17th May 2025

The shadowy warlord behind Romania’s wrecked election

Mercenary Horațiu Potra, an ally of banned Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, is accused of plotting an insurrection.

Le Soir • 22nd February 2025

In Goma, the Romanian soldiers who cheated the Congolese government

A mission marred by abuses and acts bordering on mercenarism and complicity in war crimes. (French)

Public Record • 8th April 2025

Romanian mercenaries actively fought in Congo and collaborated with local militias, violating international conventions

Romanian mercenaries in DR Congo fought actively in the conflict and collaborated with local militias which can amount to violations of international law according to experts.

Public Record • 28th February 2025

A mercenary's connections: Horațiu Potra, Ministry of Defence neighbor, links to the judiciary

Mercenary business dealings and real estate transactions indicate substantial wealth and connections to the state. (Romanian)

Le Soir • 22nd February 2025

Romanian soldiers in the DRC: from private military companies to mercenaries

Romanian mercenaries took part in combat and forged links with militias. (French)

DW Documentary • 9th November 2024

Europe’s deadly migration policy

To stop Africa migration, European governments are giving billions of euros to North African countries. Their security forces are expected to stop the migrants at any cost.

Le Monde • 5th November 2024

In Mauritania, a case of police corruption undermines anti-migration cooperation with the European Union

Eleven police officers working with smugglers are accused of accepting bribes from migrants in exchange for their release. (French)

El País • 5th November 2024

Police corruption case in Mauritania exposes anti-migrant cooperation

Eleven agents were arrested on charges of receiving bribes from migrants and the head of the fight against irregular immigration was dismissed. (Spanish)

IRPI Media • 22nd May 2024

Expulsions of sub-Saharan migrants in the desert: the role of EU means and policies

Italy, Spain and other EU countries hand over to local authorities the leading tools of the system of mass expulsions in Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania. (Italian)

IRPI Media • 21st May 2024

‘Like rubbish’: the system of mass expulsions of migrants in the desert

Systematic and widespread deportations in Tunisia, Mauritania and Morocco fuelled by the externalisation policies of the EU borders. (Italian)

tagesschau.de • 21st May 2024

EU partners systematically abandon asylum seekers in the desert

In North Africa, security forces financed by the EU are abducting asylum seekers trying to reach Europe. (German)

Lighthouse Reports • 21st May 2024

Desert Dumps

International investigation shows how Europe supports, finances and is directly involved in clandestine operations in North African countries.

El País • 21st May 2024

Mass arrests and forced relocations: how migrants in North Africa are banished with European money

Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia use European funding to forcibly detain and dump migrants in the desert. (Spanish)

Der Spiegel • 21st May 2024

Migrants Abandoned on the Edge of the Sahara: EU finances those responsible

In Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, migrants are taken to remote areas and deserts. The EU knows about it - and finances those responsible.

Le Monde • 21st May 2024

How EU funds enable North African countries to push back Europe-bound migrants into the desert

Migrants are being arrested by the hundreds and deported with EU support to desert areas in Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritania.

The Washington Post • 21st May 2024

With Europe’s support, North African nations push migrants to the desert

Europe supports, finances and is directly involved in clandestine operations in North African countries.

Al Jazeera • 23rd January 2024

‘Conflict timber’: Gambian traffickers continue rosewood trade despite ban

Al Jazeera investigation finds connection between secessionist struggle in Senegal and timber traffickers in Gambia.

PressOne • 1st October 2023

On the trail of African timber smugglers and the Romanian who got rich dealing with Gambia's former dictator

In West Africa, the trade in rosewood was banned in 2022, but it is still practiced. The architect of the local trafficking network was none other than Romanian Nicolae Buzăianu. (Romanian)

The Observer • 25th April 2025

The other Tate brother

Tristan Tate is far less well known than his notorious elder sibling, Andrew, but he holds a central role in their alleged criminality.

Public Record • 16th January 2025

The "anti-system" apostle, propelled by former state employees

Romania's controversial presidential candidate Călin Georgescu frequently describes himself as "anti-system", but he's surrounded by a network of former intelligence, police and army officers. (Romanian)

Al Jazeera • 29th February 2024

How an EU-funded security force helped Senegal crush democracy protests

An elite EU-funded Senegalese police unit was meant to tackle cross-border crime. It was used to quash demonstrations.

Le Monde • 6th September 2023

How Europe is outsourcing migration control to Africa

A four-part investigation into European policies aimed at curbing migration from Africa. (French)

In These Times • 26th July 2023

How Europe Outsourced Border Enforcement to Africa

The European Union is militarizing Africa’s internal borders to curb migration, with little regard for human rights.

Lighthouse Reports • 6th October 2021

Unmasking Europe's Shadow Armies

The visual evidence that removes the layer of plausible deniability from illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers in the Balkans and Aegean.

Libération • 6th October 2021

‘Migrant pushback': police clamp down on EU borders

Videos show the violent and illegal turning back of migrants by the Romanian and Croatian authorities. (French)

Der Spiegel • 7th October 2021

Europe's Violent Shadow Army Unmasked

Mysterious men wearing balaclavas are beating up refugees at the external EU border or abandoning them at sea.

The Guardian • 26th March 2021

‘They can see us in the dark’: migrants grapple with hi-tech fortress EU

A powerful battery of drones, thermal cameras and heartbeat detectors are being deployed to exclude asylum seekers.

VICE World News • 22nd September 2020

Self-Mutilations and Hunger Strikes: The Mental Health Crisis Inside French Migrant Detention Centres

The appalling conditions of Parisian migrant detention centre Mesnil-Amelot have grave implications for the mental health of detainees.