Africa: 9 Chinese killed in attack in Central African Republic

Nine Chinese were killed at a mine site in the Central African Republic, in the grip of civil war, in an attack condemned by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who on Monday called for the perpetrators to be “severely punished”.

The attack took place around 5 a.m. local time on Sunday in the Bambari area in the center of the African country, commune mayor Abel Machipada told AFP. “We have nine bodies and two wounded,” he said.

According to him, the victims were Chinese nationals working at the Gold Coast Group Company’s mining site, located 25 km from the site, and were attacked by “armed men”. China confirmed the toll on Monday, noting that “two were seriously injured,” but did not provide further details on the circumstances of the attack, which has not yet been subject to any claims.

“punish severely”

In a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi Jinping called for “every effort to be made to treat the injured” and “to punish the killers strictly according to the law.”

“Except for the capital Bangui, the security risk level in other parts of the Central African Republic is red, meaning very high”, the ministry underlined, calling on Chinese citizens to leave “as soon as possible. Quickly” dangerous areas.

The bodies of the victims of the attack were transferred to the Friendship Hospital in Bangui, where Chinese Ambassador Li Qinfeng went, Central African Foreign Minister Sylvie Baibo Demon told an AFP journalist.

“Despicable and Savage”

The Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), an alliance of rebel groups formed to oust President Faustin Archange Touadéra in December 2020, was not involved in Sunday’s attack. He condemned the “despicable and barbaric” act, accusing “Russian mercenaries (paramilitary organization) Wagner” of being behind it.

The Central African Republic, the world’s second-least developed country according to the UN, has been the scene of a civil war since 2013, the most deadly in its early years but which has decreased in intensity since 2018. By the end of 2020, two-thirds of the territory shared by the most powerful of the many armed groups had launched an attack on Bangui just before elections and Faustin Archangel Tutera called on Moscow to rescue its impoverished army.

Hundreds of Russian paramilitary soldiers have joined the existing few hundred since 2018. In a few months, it made it possible to repel the insurgents’ offensive and then drive them out of large parts of the areas and cities they controlled. But it could not everywhere and permanently re-establish the presence and authority of the Central African state.

(AFP)