BEIJING – China’s embassy in the Central African Republic has urged its citizens to avoid travelling outside the capital, Bangui, after a report that nine Chinese nationals were killed in an attack by militants at a gold mine outside the city.
The embassy said in a statement on Sunday there had been many “vicious” security incidents against workers of foreign mining enterprises in the area, and Chinese citizens still outside Bangui were requested to evacuate immediately.
Armed men killed nine Chinese nationals in an attack on a mine run by the Gold Coast Group, 25km from the town of Bambari, its mayor said on Sunday, according to a report from Agence France-Presse.
“We have counted nine bodies and two wounded,” the mayor of Bambari, Abel Matchipata, told AFP. The attack happened around 5am, he added.
A security source confirmed the toll and the nationality of the victims, according to AFP.
In view of the security risks, the embassy warned Chinese institutions and citizens not to travel outside Bangui and in case of emergency, to contact the embassy to seek consular protection.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for Central African Republic authorities to “severely punish” the killers of nine Chinese nationals in an attack on a mine.
Mr Xi “has given important instructions, demanding an all-out effort to treat the wounded, handle the aftermath in a timely manner, severely punish perpetrators in accordance with the law, and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens”, an unnamed China foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.
The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday the security risk level in the Central African Republic, apart from the capital, was red, or very high.
The ministry said it would work with governments and guide Chinese embassies and consulates to take further effective measures to fully safeguard Chinese citizens and enterprises in Africa.
There have been several attacks on Chinese nationals abroad in recent months, prompting embassies to issue warnings and safety alerts and conduct evacuations. REUTERS
