C.A.R Rebels Accused Of Killing Nine Chinese Miners

Authorities in the Central African Republic have accused a leading rebel group of being behind the murder of nine Chinese gold miners last month.

Justice Minister Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene said the killers were from the Coalition of Patriots for Change, quoting a final report from an inquiry into the March 19 deaths.

The CPC, an alliance of rebel groups formed in December 2020 to overthrow President Faustin-Archange Touadera, has denied any involvement in what it has called a “despicable and barbaric” act.

It has instead blamed the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, hired to protect several lucrative gold and diamond mines operated by Russian firms in the country, for the attack.

It has not provided evidence for its claim that Wagner mercenaries were involved in the murders.

But the justice minister also declined to provide details from the report accusing the rebels and journalists were not allowed to ask questions during his press conference.

Hundreds of Wagner paramilitaries were deployed to the CAR in 2018, and their numbers increased in 2020 to fend off an assault on the capital by the CPC.

The nine miners had been employed by China’s Gold Coast Group at the Chimbolo mine, 25 kilometres from Bambari, the main town in the Ouaka prefecture.

In the meantime, following the killings, China’s President Xi Jinping has demanded an all-out effort to treat the wounded, handle the aftermath in a timely manner, punish perpetrators in accordance with the law, and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens.