Shooting at a Central African Republic gold mine run by Russia's Wagner leaves 11 dead

Source: Associated Press

Shooting at a Central African Republic gold mine run by Russia’s Wagner leaves 11 dead

By JEAN-FERNAND KOENA
Updated 5:01 PM EDT, July 18, 2025

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — A shooting at a mine controlled by the Russia-linked Wagner mercenary group in the Central African Republic killed at least 11 people, residents and aid workers said Friday.

The victims were killed Wednesday night at the gold mine in Ndassima, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of the country’s capital of Bangui, the residents and aid workers told The Associated Press. Residents of nearby villages are forbidden access to the Wagner-controlled mine.

Resident Serge Pounematchi, whose son was among those killed, said the victims were at the site searching for gold residue and gravel when they were summarily killed. He joined other villagers in holding funerals for the victims.

“It is a shame that the right to life does not exist,” Pounematchi said.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/central-african-republic-gold-mine-russia-wagner-ndassima-1ed7de28f5c7b2ef4ff9579a983f80a4