Metro

Gunmen kill nine Chinese nationals at Central African Republic mine

Published

1 year ago

March 20, 2023

Armed gunmen have killed nine Chinese nationals and wounded two at a gold mining site in the Chimbolo region of Central African Republic, authorities said on Monday.

The attack on Sunday, according to the Mayor of Bambari Town which oversees Chimbolo, Abel Matipata, occured when the gunmen stormed the mining site and overpowered the guards before opening fire indiscriminately.

The attack came a few days after gunmen kidnapped three Chinese nationals in the country’s west near the border with Cameroon, which prompted the CAR President, Faustin Archange Touadera, to plan a trip to China in a bid to reassure investors.

Local media reports that the assault on the Chimbolo gold mine began around 5 a.m. at the site which was launched just last week.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suspicion fell on the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), which is active in the area and regularly launches attacks on the country’s armed forces, according to local media.

However, the CPC, an alliance of rebel groups aligned with former President Francois Bozize, in a statement,has blamed the attack on Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.

Its spokesman, Mamadou Koura, said the allegations by the government that it was behind the attack were false.

He claimed that Russian mercenaries had planned the attack “with the goal of scaring Chinese who have been present long before the Russians settled in this part of the country.”

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

11 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

12 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.