The attack early Sunday morning came just days after gunmen kidnapped three Chinese nationals in western Central African Republic, prompting President Faustin Archange Touadera to plan a trip to China to reassure investors.
Central African Republic Army. Photo: GI
The attack on the Chimbolo gold mine began at around 5 a.m. when gunmen overpowered area guards and opened fire, said Abel Matipata, mayor of the nearby town of Bambari. He added that the mine had opened just days earlier.
The bodies of the victims were flown back to the capital Bangui later Sunday. Local authorities said they were pursuing the attackers. Residents said the violence continued to undermine confidence in the security forces.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suspicion fell on the Patriotic Coalition for Change, or CPC, which is very active in the region and frequently carries out attacks on the country's armed forces.
However, CPC military spokesman Mamadou Koura said the allegations were false. The alliance of these rebel groups is linked to former President Francois Bozize.
The Central African Republic remains one of the poorest countries in the world despite its rich mineral resources such as gold and diamonds. Numerous rebel groups operate with impunity across the country, hindering foreign mining companies from exploring for minerals.
In 2020, two Chinese nationals were killed when local residents led an uprising against a Chinese-run mine in Sosso Nakombo.
Previously, in 2018, three Chinese nationals were murdered by angry community members, after a local leader died in a boating accident while accompanying Chinese miners to a site.
Hoang Anh (according to AP)
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