At least nine dead in an attack on a Chinese mining company in the Central African Republic

March 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least nine men have died this Sunday after an attack against the facilities of a Chinese mining company in a town near the city of Bambari, in the center of the Central African Republic.

The attack occurred on Sunday morning, around 05:00 local time, when a group of heavily armed men entered the area, according to the Corbeau News portal.

According to the initial balance, seven people had died and two had been injured, however, the injured succumbed to their injuries after being transferred to hospitals, so the death toll has risen to nine.

The mayor of Bambari, Abel Matchipata, has pointed out to the rebel coalition Patriots for Change Coalition (CPC): “Only the rebels carry out this type of operation”, he affirmed, in statements collected by Radio France International.

However, a security source has explained to Corbeau News that the modus operandi of the attack bears the signature of the mercenaries of the Russian Wagner group.

Police officers and members of the Wagner company have gone to the scene of the events, while the Chinese ambassador to the country and the Central African Foreign Minister have gone to the place where the bodies of the victims are found.

The presence of Wagner’s mercenaries in the country is due to the request of the Central African president, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, to support Army operations against the CPC, led by the former president and rival of the current government, François Bozizé.