Robert Besser
23 Mar 2023, 16:20 GMT+10
BANGUI, Central African Republic: Authorities from the Central African Republic have said that nine Chinese nationals were killed and two others wounded after gunmen stormed a Chinese-operated gold mine on the weekend.
In response, the rebel coalition initially blamed by some for the attack, the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), denied responsibility and accused Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group of being behind the violence.
The attack came just days after gunmen kidnapped three Chinese nationals in the country's west, near the border with Cameroon.
After the incidents, President Faustin Archange Touadera now plans to visit China to reassure investors.
Abel Matipata, mayor of the town of Bambari, located 25 kilometers from the mine, said the assault on the Chimbolo gold mine began around 5 a.m. when the gunmen overpowered the site's guards and opened fire, adding that the site had only opened for mining days earlier.
Local authorities said they are attempting to pursue those responsible, while local residents said that the violence was the latest incident undermining confidence in security forces.
"The government is having difficulty proving its ability to protect Central Africans and foreigners living in the country," noted Bambari resident Ange Morel Gbatangue, as quoted by the Associated Press.
While suspicion fell on the CPC, an alliance of rebel groups aligned with former President Francois Bozize, its military spokesman, Mamadou Koura, said the allegations were false, claiming that Russian mercenaries launched the attack "with the goal of scaring Chinese, who were present long before the Russians settled in this part of the country."
Get a daily dose of China National News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to China National News.
More InformationBEIJING, China: The Chaoyang District Intermediary Court in Beijing has begun compensation hearings for the Chinese relatives of those who ...
Israel resumed its military operation in the Gaza Strip on Friday with heavy bombardments. As strikes continue, the United States ...
LIVINGSTON, Kentucky: CSX railroad said that a failed wheel bearing on a train car caused a derailment on November 22 ...
HELSINKI, Finland: After Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) earlier this year, hundreds of migrants from the Middle ...
CHISINAU, Moldova: Over the weekend, heavy snowfall and strong blizzards in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria left one person dead and ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: After a House Ethics Committee report found substantial evidence that he broke the law, New York Republican representative ...
CANBERRA, Australia: As the first step in its efforts to curb the growing popularity of nicotine-filled devices with young people, ...
MOSCOW, Russia: Russia's trade in oil with India, one of the most lucrative oil trade routes since the imposition of ...
LONDON - Health experts and tobacco campaigners have strongly criticized New Zealand's decision to repeal laws that aimed to ban ...
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which launched a surprise offensive last month against ...
Sydney [Australia], December 3 (ANI): Former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson launched a scathing attack against his ex-teammates David Warner and ...
Melbourne [Australia], December 3 (ANI): Uncapped pacer Lance Morris has been included in Australia's 14-man squad for the first Test ...