China’s embassy in the Central African Republic has issued a strong safety advisory urging its nationals to avoid gold-mining activities in the country, citing escalating threats and exploitation concerns.
In a statement released Thursday, the embassy said Chinese citizens engaged in gold mining over recent years have faced a range of serious dangers — from financial losses and legal disputes to violent attacks and life-threatening health risks.
According to the advisory, some Chinese workers have had their identification or travel documents confiscated by local operators, leaving them trapped in abusive conditions described by the embassy as equivalent to becoming “slaves in the mines.”
The statement noted that several Chinese nationals have been killed in attacks by armed groups opposed to the government, while others were caught in clashes between rival forces. Additional fatalities have been linked to severe diseases, including malignant malaria.
The embassy also cited incidents involving staged accidents — including alleged “car crashes” and supposed “suicides” — connected to disputes among business partners in the mining sector.
Chinese nationals were warned not to travel to high-risk zones within or outside the Central African Republic for mining-related work. Those already operating in gold-mining areas were urged to withdraw immediately, inform the embassy and take necessary safety precautions.
Beijing regularly issues advisories for its citizens working in conflict-affected or remote regions, but the latest notice underscores growing concern over the volatility and lawlessness surrounding mining activities in parts of the Central African Republic.