Swiss man, CAR soldier killed near Bangui

A Swiss man carrying out a mining survey and a Central African Republic soldier assigned as his security detail were killed in an attack north of Bangui, military officials said Monday.

A high-ranking officer told AFP on condition of anonymity that “unidentified armed bandits” killed the two men on Thursday about 50 kilometres from the capital. He said authorities would launch an investigation.

The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that one of its citizens had been killed.

The Central African Republic has mineral resources including uranium, lithium, diamonds, timber and gold. Foreign companies from several countries operate in the sector.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera has increasingly relied on Russia's Wagner mercenaries amid insecurity, the Central Africa Observatory NGO said in June. The NGO said Wagner benefits from contracts in the gold, diamond and logging industries.