Swiss geologist and local miner slain after kidnapping in CAR north of Bangui

According to a statement from the Central African Republic’s public prosecutor, Swiss geologist Luca Maggini and a local miner were kidnapped by unknown assailants on Thursday evening near the village of Gbango-Carriere, roughly 55 kilometers north of the capital, Bangui. Both men were later discovered dead, and a staff sergeant from the Central African Army was also abducted during the same attack. Maggini was working for ADMOG Gold, an Emirati mining company operating under contracts in the CAR.

The incident underscores the persistent insecurity in a nation where conflict has lingered since 2013 and where various armed factions remain active. The prosecutor’s office released the details on Monday, citing eyewitness Frédéric Pounou, a colleague of Maggini, who described the kidnapping as occurring as the victim was leaving the site. The event adds to a pattern of violence that threatens foreign investment and local livelihoods in the region.