The Central African Republic government has suspended the operations of Daqing SARL, a Chinese gold and diamond mining company, due to alleged cooperation with armed militias, according to a recently publicized government decree. The Ministry of Mines accused the company of various offenses, including collusion with armed groups, illegal mining, introducing unauthorized foreign individuals into mining areas, tax evasion, and failure to provide activity reports.
Daqing SARL’s operations were based in Mingala, a southern town in the Central African Republic that has been affected by ongoing conflicts between the country’s armed forces and the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an anti-government armed group. The nation has been embroiled in conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim rebels seized power, leading to resistance from mostly Christian militias. Despite a peace deal in 2019, fighting persists, and six out of the 14 armed groups that signed the agreement have since withdrawn.
The Central African Republic remains one of the world’s poorest countries, despite its rich mineral resources. Rebel groups have hindered mining exploration by foreign companies over the past decade. Many of the companies currently operating in the country are Chinese-run and have faced security challenges, with several incidents of attacks and fatalities at Chinese-operated mines in recent years. The local government has blamed these attacks on the Coalition of Patriots for Change.