The French website Africa Intelligence revealed that Erik Prince, founder of the notorious private security company Blackwater, is preparing to return to Libya—but this time through the oil sector rather than security operations.
The site explained that Prince, a former U.S. Navy officer and founder of Frontier Services Group and Victus Global, is currently leading a new company named Freedom First, which seeks to expand investments in emerging energy markets and plans to enter the Libyan market soon.
According to the report, the company adopts an approach similar to U.S. economic diplomacy, relying on the private sector to strengthen partnerships in Africa, with a special focus on regional energy markets.
Freedom First reportedly intends to organize a Libyan-American Energy Forum in cooperation with the National Oil Corporation in Tripoli before the end of the year, aiming to enable American companies to compete for energy contracts and challenge foreign companies amid ongoing talks on infrastructure projects and increasing oil production.
The report also noted that the company benefits from Prince’s previous connections in eastern Libya, where he has cooperated with Khalifa Haftar since 2013 in operations including the so-called “Lima” operation against illegal migration. His name has also been linked to UN reports.
Additionally, Freedom First operates from Benghazi in collaboration with U.S. businessmen close to Haftar, including Michael Gidry, head of the Gidry Group, which announced in 2018 a $1.5 billion project to rebuild the Susa port. The company is currently seeking to acquire future gas facilities at the port after its rehabilitation.
The site added that the company is set to participate in the Tobruk Center of Maritime Excellence project, having signed a memorandum of understanding to develop energy infrastructure, ports, and fuel stations in cooperation with Alaa Company Network, owned by Aref Al-Nayed, who recently held meetings with company representatives to finalize the deal, leveraging his extensive connections in eastern Libya.
