Central African Republic Suspends Chinese Mining Company Over Alleged Militia Ties

Image Source: Global Witness

The Central African Republic (CAR) government has suspended a Chinese gold and diamond mining company, Daqing SARL, accusing it of serious offenses. The company is alleged to have cooperated with armed militias, engaged in illegal mining practices, brought foreign individuals into mining zones without authorization, failed to pay taxes, and neglected to submit activity reports.

Daqing SARL operated in Mingala, a southern town unfortunately familiar with conflict. Fighting between the CAR’s armed forces and the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an anti-government rebel group, has plagued the region.

This suspension comes amidst a long-standing conflict in the CAR. The country has been embroiled in violence since 2013, when Muslim rebels seized power and ousted President François Bozize. Christian militias emerged in response, fueling the flames of war.

A peace deal in 2019 offered a glimmer of hope, but it only managed to temporarily quell the fighting. Instability remains, with six of the 14 signatory rebel groups abandoning the agreement. The Coalition of Patriots for Change itself was formed just two years ago, highlighting the ongoing struggle for peace.

The resource-rich CAR, despite its abundance of gold and diamonds, remains one of the world’s poorest nations. Rebel groups have exploited the decade-long conflict, operating with impunity and hindering foreign investment in mineral exploration.

Chinese mining companies, though numerous in the CAR, have faced repeated security challenges. Recent months have seen a string of violent incidents. Last month, an attack blamed on the Coalition of Patriots for Change claimed the lives of four workers at a Chinese-run gold mine. This follows a similar attack in 2023 where nine Chinese nationals were killed, and a 2020 uprising by local residents against another Chinese mining operation that resulted in the deaths of two Chinese citizens.