Chinese targeted in Africa

2010-03-16 11:50

Beijing - The abduction of seven Chinese workers in an oil-rich coastal region off the west African state of Cameroon is the latest in a rash of attacks on Chinese around the continent.

China had a total of 768 000 workers abroad at the end of February, 57 000 more than a year ago, official data showed. Separate figures for workers in Africa were not available.

The following is a list of major kidnap incidents in Africa that involved Chinese nationals:

2007

January 5: Nigeria: Five Chinese working for a telecoms company are captured in the southern state of Rivers. They are freed 12 days later.

January 25: Nigeria: Nine employees of the China National Petroleum Company are taken hostage in the oil-producing southern state of Bayelsa. They are freed 10 days later as Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Africa.

March 17: Nigeria: Two Chinese workers are abducted in the southeastern state of Anambra. One is freed by a police raid in early June; the fate of the other is not known.

April 24: Ethiopia: A separatist group attacks a Chinese-run oil operation in the Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia, killing 77 people including nine Chinese workers, and abducting seven other Chinese, who are released six days later.

2008

May 6: Nigeria: Three Chinese workers are captured from a building site in the southern state of Cross River. They are freed three days later.

October 18: Sudan: Nine Chinese employees of the China National Petroleum Corporation are seized by rebels in the disputed Abyei region, near western Darfur. Five are killed and four freed later.

November 14: Somalia: Pirates operating off the Somali coast capture a Chinese fishing boat and its 24 Chinese crew members. They are released the following February.

2009

October 18: Seychelles: Somali pirates seize a Chinese cargo vessel and its 25 crew members off the Seychelles islands. All are freed in December after payment of a ransom.

2010

March 12: Cameroon: Seven Chinese are seized along with their fishing boat in international waters off the Bakassi peninsula in Cameroon.

- AFP