Mining

Kidnapped Chinese Miners Freed in West Africa

 

Two Chinese miners who were kidnapped in jihadist-torn Niger almost nine months ago have been released to neighbouring Burkina Faso.

China’s ambassador in Niamey, Jiang Feng, speaking on Niger television late Monday, expressed thanks from the government in Beijing for their freedom.

“The two Chinese hostages were released in Burkina Faso in February,” a Niger security source said, giving no further details.

The ambassador made the statement after meeting Niger president Mohamed Bazoum. The release “also reflects Niger’s great success in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

The two mining company employees were kidnapped on June 6 in Mbanga, a village in the southwestern region of Tillaberi that lies in a gold-rich area near Burkina Faso.

The so-called “three borders” zone between Burkina, Niger and Mali has been badly hit by jihadist groups linked to either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.

At the time of the kidnapping, Tillaberi governor Tidjani Ibrahim Katiella said the Chinese had a licence to explore for gold and had already received warnings from armed groups to leave the area. The identity of the abductors was unknown.

China strengthened its economic ties with Niger in 2006 in uranium, gold and oil exploration.

In 2007, an employee of the China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation conducting uranium exploration work in the north was abducted by a Tuareg rebel group, the Niger Movement for Justice. He was released after several days of negotiations.

 

  • AFP, with additional editing by George Russell

 

READ MORE:

 

Nigerian Gunmen Kill 2, Kidnap 3 Chinese Workers

 

Indian Policeman Arrested in $40m Crypto Kidnap Plot

 

Indonesia Suspends Operations of More Than 1,000 Miners

 

George Russell

George Russell is a freelance writer and editor based in Hong Kong who has lived in Asia since 1996. His work has been published in the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, New York Post, Variety, Forbes and the South China Morning Post.

Recent Posts

FTX Crypto Fraudster Bankman-Fried Jailed For 25 Years

A US District Judge said the former billionaire wunderkid was responsible for one of the…

6 hours ago

China’s Big 5 Lenders Warn of Property Risks as Margins Shrink

Banks have been reluctant to deepen their exposure to the ailing real estate sector but…

8 hours ago

Chinese Biotech Giant WuXi ‘Sent US Client’s Data to Beijing’

US intelligence officials say Chinese pharma companies are risking national security at a time when…

12 hours ago

China’s BYD Delays EV Factory; Solid-State Batteries ‘Unsafe’

BYD has set back plans for an EV factory in Vietnam, while CATL has said…

12 hours ago

Yellen: China’s Green Energy Push a Threat to Global Jobs – AP

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has accused China of ‘distorting prices’ with its increased green…

13 hours ago

Yen Fears Drag on Nikkei, Hang Seng Lifted by Policy Bets

Japan’s plunging currency and the threat of BoJ intervention sent Tokyo’s soaraway benchmark downwards

14 hours ago