Chimbolo massacre
5°43′08″N 20°50′40″E / 5.7188°N 20.8445°E
| Chimbolo massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Central African Republic Civil War | |
  Chimbolo | |
| Location | Chimbolo, Ouaka, Central African Republic |
| Date | 19 March 2023 4:00 WAT (UTC+01:00) |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Weapons | Firearms |
| Deaths | 9 killed (excluding 1 attacker) |
| Injured | 2 injured |
| Victims | Chinese workers |
| Perpetrators | Disputed |
No. of participants | Unknown |
On 19 March 2023 unknown gunmen attacked a gold mine near the town of Chimbolo in the Central African Republic's province of Ouaka, killing nine Chinese workers and injuring two.
Background[edit]
In the early March 2023, miners started to work near the Chimbolo village in a gold mine owned by Chinese company The Gold Coast Group.[1]
Events[edit]
Around 5 a.m. local time (04:00 GMT)[2] group of armed men entered the site. More than a dozen soldiers were supposed to protect the site but only four were present during the attack.[1] Upon seeing the attackers all guards fled, shooting one of the attackers in the process.[3] After their retreat, attackers entered the dormitories and began taking their inhabitants one by one. They tackled them to the ground before executing them at point-blank range.[3][1] Before turning back, attackers searched the dormitory and retrieved body of one of their fighters who was killed previously.[3]
The attackers left the bodies of the victims facing down in a row in the mud.[1] The victims have not been identified, and their bodies were cremated shortly after the attack.[1]
Responsibility[edit]
Allegations of rebel responsibility[edit]
The government, including justice minister Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, has blamed rebel Coalition of Patriots for Change for the attack.[1] Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group claimed the "bandits" were responsible for the attack and that they were caught without elaborating.[1] According to investigation by Afrique Media rebels from UPC were responsible for the attack.[4] On 19 April government released its investigation blaming the CPC rebels for the massacre.[5]
Allegations of government responsibility[edit]
Rebels spokesman Mamadou Koura refuted these allegations instead blame Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.[2] According to Corbeau News Centrafrique one of the attackers who was killed during the attack was named Saleh alias "Erike" who belonged to pro-government armed group.[3] The website blamed the Wagner Group and allied Central African militia for the attack citing interview with one of the survivors of the attack.[6] Investigation by Mother Jones blamed Russian mercenaries for the attack.[7]
According to Human Rights Division of the United Nations ex-UPC combatants allied with the government known as "Black Russians" were present in the area during the attack. They allegedly beat a man to force him to reveal identities of the attackers.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Mysterious Killing of Chinese Gold Miners Puts New Pressure on Beijing, 15 May 2023
- ^ a b CAR: Several killed in attack on Chinese mine, 19 March 2023
- ^ a b c d Assassinat de 9 Chinois à Chimbolo : 3 faux suspects arrêtés, un Russe noir tué dans l’attaque vient d’être identifié par CNC, 4 April 2023
- ^ The attack on Chinese workers in Bambari: A detailed investigation, 28 March 2023
- ^ Meurtre de chinois à Chingbolo: l’enquête gouvernementale pointe la responsabilité de la CPC, 19 April 2023
- ^ Entretien exclusif avec un rescapé de la tuerie de Chimbolo, 11 April 2023
- ^ Philip Obaji Jr.: Witnesses Unravel the Chinese Mass Murder Mystery That Could Ruin Putin, 23 March 2023
- ^ Human Rights Division Monthly Report: Human Rights Situation March 2023