Central African Republic Suspends Chinese Mining Company

 The Times of India ran on 10 June 2024 an Associated Press story titled "Central African Republic Government Suspends Chinese Mining Company for Alleged Ties to Armed Groups."

The Central African Republic's Ministry of Mines accused a Chinese gold and diamond mining company of "intelligence with armed groups, illegal exploitation, illegal introduction of foreign subjects into mining areas, non-payment of taxes and lack of activity reports."  It said the company cooperated with armed militias and suspended its operations.

Mystery Over Chinese Miners Killed in Central African Republic

 The New York Times published on 15 May 2023 an article titled "Mysterious Killing of Chinese Gold Miners Puts New Pressure on Beijing" by Nicole Hong and Elian Peltier.

In March, gunmen targeted Chinese gold miners in the Central African Republic, killing nine of them.  The government of the CAR blamed a local rebel group called the Coalition of Patriots for Change, which denied the charge and claimed the Russian mercenary organization, Wagner Group, was responsible.  Chinese officials are still investigating the attack as China struggles to protect its nationals in remote and dangerous locations in Africa.

Wagner Group in CAR Helps Russia Avoid Sanctions

Africa Defense Forum magazine published on 2 May 2023 an article titled "Wagner Group's CAR Mining Operations Help Russia Evade Sanctions." 

The mercenary Wagner Group helps Russia circumvent sanctions by laundering gold and diamonds from the Central African Republic to finance the invasion of Ukraine.  

Can China Protect Its Nationals in the Central African Republic?

 China Brief published on 31 March 2023 an article titled "Central African Republic Mine Attack: Can China Protect Its Overseas Nationals?" by John S. Van Oudenaren.  

On March 19, gunmen attacked miners at a gold mine in the Central African Republic, killing 9 Chinese workers.  The author asks if China has the capacity to protect its nationals in dangerous parts of the world.  The People's Liberation Army still has limited capacity to conduct complex, joint operations in regions far beyond East Asia.  A growing number of Chinese private security companies have begun operating abroad but have not yet proved to be the solution.  

Comment: Two weeks after the incident in the CAR, China evacuated 80 Chinese nationals from the country.  

Protecting Chinese Nationals in Central African Republic

 Foreign Policy posted on 30 March 2023 a commentary titled "Beijing Doesn't Know Who to Blame for Gold Mine Murders" by Arthur Kaufman, an editor at China Digital Times.

On 19 March, a group of armed men attacked a gold mine operation in the Central African Republic (CAR), killing nine Chinese citizens and injuring two more.  It remains unclear who perpetrated the crime.  The CAR government blamed the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), an alliance of rebel groups hostile to the government. The CPC denied any involvement and claimed the attack was conducted by the Wagner Group, Russian mercenaries backing the central government.  This attack in the CAR is part of a broader pattern of violence against Chinese citizens in the country.  

Chinese Nationals Killed and Kidnapped in Central African Republic; President Xi Calls for Punishment

 The Associated Press published on 19 March 2023 an article titled "Gunmen Kill 9 Chinese at Mine in Central African Republic" by Jean-Fernand Koena and Krista Larson.  

Unknown gunmen attacked a Chinese-operated gold mine in the violence-prone Central African Republic, killing 9 Chinese and injuring 2 others.  The attack followed an incident in a different part of the CAR that resulted in the kidnapping of 3 Chinese nationals.  

The BBC posted on 20 March 2023 an article titled "China's President Xi Jinping Condemns Killings of Miners in CAR."

President Xi said every effort should be made to save the lives of the wounded, and to ensure the perpetrators were arrested and "punished severely" under the law.  

The New York Times published on 20 March 2023 an article titled "Xi Condemns Killings in African Nation Where Russia and Chinese Interests Compete" by Elian Peltier.  

Complicated Political Web and Wagner Group in Central African Republic

 World Politics Review published on 31 January 2023 an analysis titled "Wagner Is Only One Piece in Central African Republic's Messy Puzzle" by Vianney Ingasso, investigative reporter for Bangui's Radio Ndeke Luka, Marcel Plichta, doctoral candidate at the University of St. Andrews, and John Lechner, researcher and writer on Central Africa.  

This is an analysis of the complex struggle for power in the Central African Republic and the role of the Wagner Group, Russia's mercenary organization.  The authors conclude that Wagner's 1200 mercenaries have shifted the military balance of power in the CAR government's favor for the first time in years.  Russian advisers wield influence and perhaps reap the financial benefits of mineral extraction but they have not yet translated these gains into substantial foreign policy wins for the Kremlin.