Armed men have kidnapped two Chinese employees of a mining company in a volatile area near western Niger's borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, the regional governor said Monday.

"Two Chinese nationals were kidnapped... by armed men in Mbanga" on Sunday night, the governor of the Tillaberi region Tidjani Ibrahim Katiella told AFP.

The "three borders" zone between the Sahel nations is regularly hit by attacks from jihadist groups linked to either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.

The governor said the identity and number of those behind Sunday's abduction were not known.

He added that the two kidnapped Chinese employees "have a permit to search for gold" and had already received warnings from armed groups to leave the area "but they had refused to go home".

China strengthened its economic ties with Niger in 2006 through uranium, gold and oil exploration.

The last time a Chinese citizen was kidnapped was on July 6, 2007.

An employee of the China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation (CNEC) conducting uranium exploration work in the north was abducted by Tuareg rebel group the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ).

The MNJ told AFP at the time that the abduction was an "ultimatum to the Chinese companies that cooperate with the Niger army".

He was released after several days of negotiations.

Several other foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Mali in the last decade, including four French citizens in 2010 who were released three years later, and a Germany NGO worker in 2018 in Tillaberi who was never found.

Landlocked Niger faces attacks by the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram from the southeast, and IS and al-Qaeda groups from the western border with Mali.

On March 21, several hamlets in the Tahoua region which borders Tillaberi were struck by coordinated attacks that killed 141 people -- the most deadly presumed jihadist assault in Niger in recent years.&nbsp;

Armed men have kidnapped two Chinese employees of a mining company in a volatile area near western Niger's borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, the regional governor said Monday.

Armed men have kidnapped two Chinese employees of a mining company in a volatile area near western Niger's borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, the regional governor said Monday. "Two Chinese nationals were kidnapped... by armed men in Mbanga" on Sunday night, the governor of the Tillaberi region Tidjani Ibrahim Katiella told AFP. The "three borders" zone between the Sahel nations is regularly hit by attacks from jihadist groups linked to either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. The governor said the identity and number of those behind Sunday's abduction were not known. He added that the two kidnapped Chinese employees "have a permit to search for gold" and had already received warnings from armed groups to leave the area "but they had refused to go home". China strengthened its economic ties with Niger in 2006 through uranium, gold and oil exploration. The last time a Chinese citizen was kidnapped was on July 6, 2007. An employee of the China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation (CNEC) conducting uranium exploration work in the north was abducted by Tuareg rebel group the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ). The MNJ told AFP at the time that the abduction was an "ultimatum to the Chinese companies that cooperate with the Niger army". He was released after several days of negotiations. Several other foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Mali in the last decade, including four French citizens in 2010 who were released three years later, and a Germany NGO worker in 2018 in Tillaberi who was never found. Landlocked Niger faces attacks by the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram from the southeast, and IS and al-Qaeda groups from the western border with Mali. On March 21, several hamlets in the Tahoua region which borders Tillaberi were struck by coordinated attacks that killed 141 people -- the most deadly presumed jihadist assault in Niger in recent years.

Two Chinese mining employees kidnapped in western Niger

The shooting of two Zimbabwean workers shows the "systematic and widespread" abuse that locals experience in Chinese mining operations, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Society (ZELA) said, reported CNN.&nbsp;

The remarks came amid the nationwide anger, with the nation's biggest labour representative association, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union, saying there is a history of Chinese nationals ill-treating their workers and the union would not fold its arms as these incidents continue.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-human-rights-activists-stage-protest-against-chinas-attack-at-india-309287">Japan: Human rights activists stage protest against China's attack at India</a>

Last Sunday, a Chinese miner shot two workers after they demanded their outstanding dues in Gweru province, in central Zimbabwe.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-sent-martial-artists-to-india-border-before-deadly-clash-report-309116#:~:text=China%20reinforced%20its%20troops%20near,this%20month%2C%20state%20media%20reported.&amp;text=India%20said%20Thursday%20that%20it,a%20similar%20buildup%20by%20China.">China sent martial artists to India border before deadly clash: Report</a>

Miner Kenneth Tachiona confronted Zhang Xuen after the latter refused to pay the dues in US dollars, according to an affidavit submitted in the court.&nbsp;

Tachiona charged towards Zhang, who pulled out his gun and shot Tachiona three times on his right thigh and two times on the left.&nbsp;

Police shot that Zhang also fired another round at workers and one of the bullets grazed the chin of another employee.

Both the victims are being treated in a private hospital and Zhang has been charged with attempted murder.&nbsp;

Earlier, the Chinese embassy expressed its concern over what it describes as an "isolated incident" and said it would support an independent and transparent probe by Zimbabwean law enforcement authorities.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The shooting of two Zimbabwean workers shows the "systematic and widespread" abuse that locals experience in Chinese mining operations, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Society (ZELA) said, reported CNN.

The shooting of two Zimbabwean workers shows the "systematic and widespread" abuse that locals experience in Chinese mining operations, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Society (ZELA) said, reported CNN. The remarks came amid the nationwide anger, with the nation's biggest labour representative association, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union, saying there is a history of Chinese nationals ill-treating their workers and the union would not fold its arms as these incidents continue. Also read | Japan: Human rights activists stage protest against China's attack at India Last Sunday, a Chinese miner shot two workers after they demanded their outstanding dues in Gweru province, in central Zimbabwe. Also read | China sent martial artists to India border before deadly clash: Report Miner Kenneth Tachiona confronted Zhang Xuen after the latter refused to pay the dues in US dollars, according to an affidavit submitted in the court. Tachiona charged towards Zhang, who pulled out his gun and shot Tachiona three times on his right thigh and two times on the left. Police shot that Zhang also fired another round at workers and one of the bullets grazed the chin of another employee. Both the victims are being treated in a private hospital and Zhang has been charged with attempted murder. Earlier, the Chinese embassy expressed its concern over what it describes as an "isolated incident" and said it would support an independent and transparent probe by Zimbabwean law enforcement authorities.

Chinese boss shooting Zimbabwean workers shows 'systematic abuse': Watchdog

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Two Chinese mining employees kidnapped in western Niger

Chinese boss shooting Zimbabwean workers shows 'systematic abuse': Watchdog