An attack that targeted the site of a Chinese mining company, Gold Coast Group, carried out on Sunday March 19 by armed men in the village of Chingbolo, near the town of Bambari, in the center of the Central African Republic, killed nine workers Chinese and injured two other people.
The mayor of Bambari, Abel Matchipata, pointed the finger at the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC). “Only the rebels can do this kind of operation. The Chinese were executed with a bullet to the head,” he lamented.
But the CPC, an alliance of rebel groups created in December 2020 to overthrow President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, “categorically” denied these allegations, in turn accusing “Russian Wagner mercenaries” of having “planned and prepared” this “ despicable and barbaric act”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping “called for making every effort to treat the injured”, as well as “severely punishing the murderers in accordance with the law”, according to a press release from Chinese diplomacy.
The same source indicates that « with the exception of the capital Bangui, the level of security risk in the other regions of the Central African Republic is red, that is to say extremely high ».
And to call on Chinese nationals “to evacuate as soon as possible” areas deemed dangerous, while waiting for new measures to be taken, in consultation with the Bangui authorities, to fully protect Chinese citizens and businesses in the country.
For its part, the Chinese Embassy in the Central African Republic has invited its nationals to avoid travel outside the capital Bangui.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1095 of 20/03/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
