There were “Great security Risks’’ in Nigeria and Congo.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing has warned Chinese citizens and firms working in the African continent against travelling to some risky areas amid the kidnappings of Chinese citizens in Africa.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, on Monday, confirmed the abduction of five Chinese nationals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He urged those in dangerous places to leave as soon as possible.Zhao said the abductions took place during an attack on a gold mine in the village of Mukera in eastern Congo, adding that in another recent incident in Nigeria, three Chinese employees were also kidnapped.

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The spokesperson stressed that there were “great security risks’’ in Nigeria and Congo, and these incidents were not the first of their kind either.“China’s Foreign Ministry, embassies and consulates had previously advised nationals not to go to high-risk areas.

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The spokesperson emphasized that there were “significant security risks” in Nigeria and the Congo, and that these incidents were not the first of their kind.

“China’s Foreign Ministry, embassies, and consulates previously advised nationals not to travel to high-risk areas.”

In recent years, China has significantly increased its investments in Africa’s mining industry.
This has resulted in growing local resentment of wealthy Chinese employees working in resource-rich countries like the Congo, where living standards are extremely low.

Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila signed a highly contentious nine-billion-dollar agreement in 2008 that guaranteed China mining rights in the country in exchange for funding for much-needed infrastructure projects.

Kabila’s successor, Felix Tshisekedi, called for a review of the agreement and “fairer deals” a few weeks ago.