The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in Beijing, has warned its citizens and firms working in the African continent against travelling to some risky areas amid the abductions of Chinese citizens in Africa.
The travel advice was issued, on Monday, by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, as he confirmed the abduction of five Chinese nationals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, NAN reports.
Zhao Lijian further urged those in dangerous places to leave as soon as possible.
According to Zhao, the abductions took place during an attack on a gold mine in the Mukera village of eastern Congo, citing another recent incident in Nigeria, where three Chinese employees were kidnapped.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed that there were “great security risks’’ in Nigeria and Congo, and these incidents were not the first of their kind.
China has significantly increased its investments in the mining industry in Africa in recent years.
This has led to growing local resentment towards wealthy Chinese employees working in countries such as the resource-rich Congo, where living standards are extremely low.