Evacuate! If you don't evacuate, you'll die! Mali is completely out of control, Chinese enterprises are specifically named "get out immediately"!

The Chinese Embassy in Mali issued an emergency notice on August 2nd. This time it's not just a regular "suggestion to evacuate," but a strict order: all Chinese companies must stop work immediately, and all personnel must evacuate right away, no one left behind!

Since the coup in 2012, the security situation in this West African country has continued to be unstable, with terrorist organizations constantly expanding their influence. Especially after the French military withdrew, the security situation further deteriorated. Statistical data shows that the number of terrorist attacks this year has increased by nearly 50% compared to last year.

Currently, Chinese enterprises and employees have become the main targets of terrorists. On social media, there are even open threatening statements demanding "let the Chinese leave."

Why are terrorists targeting Chinese enterprises? To put it simply, it's all about money. A project manager who did not want to reveal his name said that recently, people on motorcycles often circled around the construction site. Local employees secretly told them that these people were scouting, wanting to steal equipment and take hostages for ransom.

Even more frightening is that three attacks on foreign enterprises occurred nearby in July, and the most recent one was only 20 kilometers away from the Chinese enterprise's camp.

Upon receiving the notice, Chinese enterprises immediately took action. Some destroyed important documents, some removed chips from expensive equipment to take with them, and even someone sank a bulldozer worth millions into the river—rather than let it fall into the hands of terrorists to be modified into a war vehicle. Most people have already evacuated through neighboring countries, but the process was really heart-stopping.

This incident has exposed a big problem: How can Chinese enterprises protect themselves overseas? Western countries often send in their armies, while we mainly rely on local police and security. But against fully armed terrorists, these measures are completely inadequate. Experts say that when China promotes the "Belt and Road" initiative, it must seriously consider how to protect the safety of overseas personnel and assets.

The incident in Mali affects not only the local area. The country's uranium production accounts for 7% of the world's total. When the Chinese enterprises' projects stopped, the international uranium price immediately rose. More troubling is that anti-foreign sentiments have also begun to appear in neighboring countries. These chain reactions may affect the entire region's investment environment.

This emergency evacuation has sounded a warning:

First, overseas investments cannot just focus on economic calculations. Many enterprises save on security measures to cut costs, sometimes even hiring unreliable local companies as security. This works in peaceful areas, but in war-torn regions, it's like playing with your life.

Second, international cooperation needs to keep up. Now the French have left, and the Russians have arrived, but the counter-terrorism effect is not ideal. China's proposed peace plan is good, but without military support, it appears powerless in front of guns.

Third, don't treat evacuations as "the wolf is coming again." Previously, during the evacuations in Yemen and Sudan, the whole country paid close attention, but now it seems to have become routine. This numbness is dangerous and may lead to errors in the authorities' crisis assessments.

In the end, overseas development is indeed important, but the safety of human lives should always come first. When the gun of the terrorists is already pressed against your temple, should we think carefully: Is it worth investing in these high-risk areas?

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839493242229956/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.