China confirmed on Thursday that an armed attack in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) resulted in the deaths or disappearances of a number of its citizens.
Local sources report that a militia attack on a mining site in the gold-rich Ituri province on Wednesday killed at least four Chinese nationals.
According to Beijing's foreign ministry, armed forces attacked a private Chinese company in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in the deaths and disappearance of numerous Chinese nationals. They did not specify the exact number of those affected.
At a routine press conference, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, "China strongly condemns this attack."
"We demand that the DRC side hunts down the killers as quickly as possible and strictly punishes them in accordance with the law," according to her.
Certain local sources claimed that a militia group, Codeco, which claims to be defending the Lendu tribe's interests against the rival Hema tribe, was responsible for Wednesday's incident.
Provincial deputy Jean-Pierre Bikilisende informed reporters that the Codeco has conducted an incursion into the Chinese mining site, which is situated in the Djugu territory of Ituri, not far from the town of Abombi.
"We have a first provisional toll of four Chinese killed and two FARDC (Congolese army) members wounded," according to him.
According to additional local sources, the fatality toll includes six Chinese nationals, their bodyguards, two Congolese soldiers, and two civilians.
Recent Occurrences
According to the organization, two staff members of the foreign aid group Tearfund were slain when their convoy was attacked in eastern Congo, the latest in a series of attacks targeting aid groups and residents in the region.
The organisation said in a statement released late Monday that the aid workers were murdered on Sunday after their convoy arrived in Butembo city, North Kivu province, where armed rebels have been engaged in a conflict with Congolese security forces.
The group responsible for the attack was not readily apparent. In their pursuit of a portion of the region's gold and other resources, over 120 armed groups in eastern Congo have been conducting attacks, frequently employing explosives to target residents.
On Tuesday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Congo issued a statement emphasizing the need for humanitarian workers' protection, citing over 170 security incidents that have resulted in the abduction of over a dozen people and the death of at least four people.
"It is intolerable that those who are attempting to assist the afflicted are being attacked and killed during a period of significant humanitarian need," stated Bruno Lemarquis, the humanitarian coordinator for Congo.
In recent months, the violence in the province has deteriorated as security forces engage in a battle against the insurgents. Last week, mortar shelling targeted a base under South Africa's military administration, part of a regional peacekeeping mission, resulting in the deaths of two individuals in the region.
The rebels have also seized additional communities in recent weeks.
Embassy Reminder
The Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) urges all Chinese nationals to exercise caution regarding security. We request that Chinese citizens conducting business in Kinshasa closely monitor the local situation and enhance security measures.
We advise all citizens of the nation to exercise caution and avoid potential hazards and circumstances. Additionally, we recommend citizens to exercise caution when travelling to regions with a high prevalence of tropical infectious diseases and implement personal sanitation measures as needed.
Emergency Contacts
In the event of an emergency, please promptly report it to the police and contact the embassy.
The Congo (DRC) emergency hotline is +243-818906284, +243-816770006, and +243-827205000.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline (24 hours): +86-10-12308 or +86-10-65612308
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Embassy's consular protection and assistance hotline is +243-851474669.
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