Beijing: The Chinese embassy in the Central African Republic has issued a cautionary statement to Chinese nationals, urging them to avoid involvement in high-risk sectors such as gold mining due to the potential risk of becoming "mine slaves."

According to Anadolu Agency, the embassy's statement highlighted that Chinese citizens engaged in gold mining in recent years have encountered significant security challenges. These range from financial losses due to fines or unsuccessful ventures to severe physical threats. The statement further elaborated that in some instances, Chinese nationals had their documents confiscated, effectively rendering them "mine slaves."

The embassy also revealed that some individuals had been attacked and killed by anti-government armed groups, caught in conflicts between various forces, or succumbed to deadly diseases like malignant malaria. Additionally, there were warnings about individuals being maimed or killed in orchestrated incidents such as "car crashes" or "hangings" linked to shareholder disputes.

The embassy strongly advised against traveling to red zones within the Central African Republic for work purposes and emphasized avoiding high-risk industries like gold mining. It urged those currently involved in such activities to cease immediately, evacuate the area, and report their status to the embassy.