China Warns of ‘Mining Slave’ Risks for Citizens in Central African Republic

Bangui, November 21, 2025 — The Chinese embassy in the Central African Republic (CAR) has issued an unusually stark warning to its nationals, cautioning that involvement in the country’s gold trade could leave them trapped as “mining slaves.” The statement highlights escalating dangers for Chinese workers abroad, many of whom have turned to sub-Saharan Africa amid slowing economic opportunities at home.

According to the embassy, Chinese citizens in CAR have faced killings, kidnappings, fraud, and exploitation at the hands of armed groups and even business partners. Some have been lured into illegal mining operations only to be scammed or deported, while others have lost identification documents, leaving them vulnerable to forced labour conditions. The embassy stressed that nationals working in CAR’s gold sector face “significant security risks,” citing militia ambushes, factional violence, disease outbreaks, and suspicious incidents disguised as accidents.

The warning comes as gold prices surge and China continues to expand its reserves through state-backed purchases. CAR, despite being one of the world’s poorest nations and mired in civil conflict for over a decade, holds vast deposits of gold, diamonds, and oil. Weak oversight and poor law enforcement have made it a hotspot for illegal mining, alongside countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Mali.

The embassy urged all Chinese nationals to leave CAR immediately, particularly areas outside the capital, Bangui, where risks are most acute. While Beijing traditionally avoids commenting on internal affairs abroad, it has become more vocal about protecting its citizens overseas. China has provided more than $26 million in loans to CAR, but the growing number of incidents has prompted stronger warnings.

This shift in tone also resonates in Chinese popular culture. The blockbuster film Wolf Warrior 2 dramatized the rescue of Chinese citizens in a war-torn African country, ending with the message: “Don’t give up if you run into danger abroad. Please remember, a strong motherland will always have your back.”

Both China and the United States currently advise against travel to CAR. The embassy’s statement included the words of a grieving mother whose son died in the mines: “The thing I regret most in this life is not stopping my son from going to the Central African Republic to dig for gold.”

The warning underscores the intersection of global resource demand, fragile governance, and the human cost of mining in conflict zones.