The Central African Republic has suspended the operations of Daqing SARL, a Chinese mining company, accusing it of collaborating with armed militias.
According to a government decree made public on Saturday, the ministry of mines charged Daqing SARL with “intelligence with armed groups, illegal exploitation, illegal introduction of foreign subjects into mining areas, non-payment of taxes and lack of activity reports.”
The company operated in Mingala, a southern town troubled by clashes between government forces and the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an anti-government militia.
The Central African Republic has faced ongoing conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim rebels overthrew President Francois Bozize, leading to a violent response from mostly Christian militias.
Despite 2019 peace deal that reduced the fighting, six of the 14 armed groups that signed it have since withdrawn, leading to the formation of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) in 2020.
Although the Central African Republic is rich in minerals like gold and diamonds, it remains one of the poorest countries globally.
Rebel groups have operated with impunity over the past decade, hindering foreign mining exploration.
Chinese-run mining operations in the country face significant security challenges. Last month, an attack on a Chinese-run gold mine left four workers dead, an incident blamed on the CPC.
Similarly, nine Chinese nationals were killed at another gold mine last year, with the government attributing the attack to the same rebel alliance.
In 2020, an uprising by local residents against a Chinese-operated mine in the south resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals.
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