Swiss geologist killed in Central African Republic attack

Central African Republic authorities have opened a criminal investigation after Swiss geologist Luca Maggini and a soldier were killed in an attack linked to a mining project, court officials told AFP on Friday.

Officials at the High Court in Damara said unidentified armed men abducted Maggini and his security detail on July 31 from a quarrying area about 50 kilometres north of Bangui.

Maggini was surveying for United Arab Emirates-based ADMOG Gold, which has a gold extraction contract with the Central African Republic government.

Infrastructure Minister Pascal Koyagbele said the deaths could "tarnish the country's image" and affect how investors view security in the country. He said authorities had increased security around Damara, the hometown of President Faustin-Archange Touadera, and around mining sites operated by UAE companies.

Koyagbele said the government’s contract with ADMOG had not been terminated and that operations would resume after the investigation is complete. Touadera met a Swiss delegation on Tuesday to discuss the attack.