Erik Prince, chairman and co-founder of the new Houston-headquartered energy company Freedom First, is targeting oil and gas opportunities in African nations where security risks have traditionally deterred investment. The company, formed last year, aims to help oil and gas companies boost production and efficiency and explore new financing, with a current operational focus on Libya, where it has a Tripoli office.

Focus on Somalia and a Security-Informed Model

Prince specifically highlights the potential of offshore Somalia, describing it as having "super-prospective blocks." He draws parallels to gas-rich Mozambique, noting both face Islamist insurgencies. While emphasizing Freedom First is an energy company, he suggests his security experience is relevant. He cites his past involvement in building the Puntland Marine Police Force (PMPF) between 2009 and 2011, which helped combat piracy, as a model for establishing security to unlock energy potential. The goal is to help establish a logistics base in Somalia to develop an offshore industry, creating jobs to provide an economic alternative to radicalism.

Libya as a Primary Market

Freedom First has a significant focus on Libya, a country with substantial hydrocarbon reserves but ongoing security challenges following the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The company does not intend to act as a traditional exploration and production firm seeking concessions. Instead, its strategy is to work within existing national operating entities to help them become more efficient and increase production, potentially through mentoring programs and daily collaboration. Prince outlines Libya's security obstacles as including militias and the military influence of outside nations such as Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

Addressing Broader African Instability

Prince argues that security threats in other regions, like Mozambique, could be resolved to enable major projects. He claims the security situation that halted TotalEnergies' and ExxonMobil's LNG projects could be extinguished for a fraction of the projects' total cost by building a proper security apparatus. He characterizes the current presence of Rwandan forces in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province as a "Band-Aid" not solving the insurgency.

Integration of Security and Energy Expertise

Prince frames the company's approach as applying a niche specialty expertise model—common in oilfield services for seismic or drilling work—to the security-management space. This is intended to "de-dramatise" security so that oilfield operations can proceed. The company's leadership, including President Ryan Manicom, has extensive oil and gas industry experience from roles at companies like Holloman Corporation, Orion Gas Processors, Chesapeake Energy, Schlumberger, and Halliburton.

Context of Prince's Background and Other Ventures

Prince's background as a former US Navy SEAL and founder of the private military contractor Blackwater informs his current ventures. He now also runs Vectus Global, which is under contract with the Haitian government to advise and support police operations against criminal gangs. He suggests this model of enhancing sovereign capability, funded from within the operating countries, is key. He distances Freedom First from the U.S. government, stating it is not a U.S. entity or government contractor.

Controversy and Perspective

The use of private military contractors (PMCs) attracts criticism regarding sovereignty and accountability. Transparency International US researcher Colby Goodman notes such cooperation can be beneficial if conducted within legal bounds and with transparency, but risky if local governance is weak. Prince's past work with Blackwater has been controversial, including a 2010 settlement for export violations and the 2007 Baghdad shooting incident for which four former guards were convicted and later pardoned. Prince, without referencing specific incidents, acknowledges the tragedy when innocent people are hurt in conflict