BUKAVU: At least four people, including two Chinese nationals, were killed in an armed attack on a gold convoy in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), local authorities reported.
The targeted convoy, consisting of four vehicles owned by TSM Mining, was transporting precious gold from a mining site located near the Kimbi River in the volatile Fizi region of South Kivu province. The assailants carried out a brazen ambush, forcefully seizing parcels of gold and escaping into the dense wilderness, leaving behind a scene of devastation and despair.
Chinese Gold Mine Workers in DR Congo
Sammy Badibanga Kalondji, the highest-ranking local official in Fizi, confirmed the tragic incident, revealing that the casualties included a Congolese soldier and a driver alongside the two Chinese nationals. Additionally, three individuals were wounded during the attack, including a Chinese mine employee and two local residents – a soldier and a mine worker.
Authorities have identified the attackers as individuals from the neighboring Maniema region. South Kivu has witnessed a series of attacks orchestrated by armed groups and militias in recent times, contributing to the ongoing unrest and instability in the area.
China holds a prominent position as a major investor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it exerts significant influence over the highly profitable mineral mining industry.
