The Chinese Embassy in the Central African Republic has urged its citizens to avoid traveling outside the capital, Bangui, after nine Chinese nationals were killed in an attack by gunmen on a gold mine outside the city.
L’ambassade a declaration dimanche dans un communiqué qu’il y avait eu more incidents of security “violent” contre des travailleurs de sociétés minières étrangères dans la region, et les ressortissants Chinese toujours à l’exterieur de Bangui ont été priés d’évacuer immediately.
The mayor of Bambari said that besides the nine dead, two other people were injured in the attack on the mine operated by the Gold Coast Group, about 15 miles (25 kilometers) from the town of Bambari.
It was yesterday morning around 5 am (3 am GMT) when we heard gunfire. A little later, we learned that it was the Chinese mine site that was attacked,” Abel Machibata said on Monday.
He said he believed the attackers belonged to the Alliance of Patriots for Change, a coalition of rebel groups formed ahead of the 2020 presidential election to oppose President Faustin-Archange Touadera.
In a statement, the Chinese Communist Party denied responsibility and condemned the attack.
Numerous armed groups control large swaths of territory and regularly commit abuses against the civilian population of Central African Republic, a country that has rarely known stability since its independence in 1960.
China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Chinese President Xi Jinping had called for “severe punishments” for the perpetrators in accordance with the law, and said the safety of Chinese citizens should be ensured.
Due to the security risks, the Chinese Embassy has warned Chinese institutions and citizens not to travel outside Bangui and in case of emergency to contact the Embassy to request consular protection.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry added that the level of security risks in CAR, with the exception of the capital, was “red”, or very high.
The ministry said it will work with governments and ask Chinese embassies and consulates to take more effective measures to protect Chinese citizens and businesses in Africa.
There have been several attacks on Chinese nationals abroad in recent months, prompting embassies to issue security warnings and alerts and carry out evacuations.
