Four feared dead in Central African Republic mining town rebel attack

Armed rebels have reportedly attacked a Chinese-run gold mining town and killed at least four people in the Central African Republic.

A local government spokesperson, Maxime Balalu, told The Associated Press that the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an alliance of rebel groups aligned with former President Francois Bozize, had attacked Gaga, a village about 125 miles (200 kilometers) from the capital, Bangui.

Balalu added the death toll might rise and included several individuals who worked at the nearby mine, several others were injured in the attack.

It would be recalled that the Chinese mining companies suffered targeted armed attacks in the Central African Republic and other African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

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It was gathered that the recent attack was one of the several attacks on Chinese companies in the Central African Republic, adding, “On March 13, 2023, three Chinese nationals were kidnapped by armed men believed to be members of the CPC, 25 kilometers from Abba in the Nana-Mambéré Prefecture.

On March 19, 2023, nine Chinese nationals were murdered allegedly by the CPC. Also, on February 22, 2024, three people were abducted in the mines of the Yaloké region, operated by Chinese nationals.

The series of terrorist attacks, according to the spokesperson, is negatively impacting diplomatic relations between CAR and trading partners, just as he noted that investigations into the attacks targeting Chinese companies have alleged the involvement of the United States.