By Ebi Kesiena
The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) has suspended the activities of Daqing SARL, a Chinese gold and diamond mining company, citing accusations of collaboration with armed militias.
According to a decree by the Ministry of Mines, Daqing company is accused of intelligence with armed groups, illegal mining, illegal introduction of foreign subjects into mining areas, non-payment of taxes, and absence of activity reports.
The ministry noted that all mining activities of the company must stop immediately.
Daqing SARL was operating in Mingala, a southern town in CAR known for its ongoing conflict between government forces and the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an anti-government armed group.
The suspension reflects ongoing instability in a country that has been mired in conflict since 2013.
Despite a 2019 peace deal, fighting has continued, with six out of 14 signatory armed groups withdrawing from the agreement. The Coalition of Patriots for Change, formed in 2020, remains active in the region.
CAR, one of the poorest countries globally, struggles with pervasive rebel activity that hampers foreign mineral exploration, despite its significant gold and diamond resources.
Chinese companies, which dominate the mining sector in CAR have faced numerous security challenges. Recently, four workers were killed in an attack on a Chinese-operated gold mine, attributed to the Coalition of Patriots for Change. Last year, nine Chinese nationals were killed in a similar attack, and in 2020, two Chinese nationals died during an uprising against a Chinese-run mine in the south.
However, the suspension of Daqing SARL emphasizes the persistent challenges faced by foreign companies operating in CAR and the ongoing struggle for stability and economic development in the resource-rich nation.
