A Chinese petroleum company's project team in Southeast Ethiopia was attacked and robbed by over two hundred unidentified arms men on April 24. What we know at this stage is, nine Chinese were killed, one injured and another seven kidnapped. Further details are still under verification presently. Some Ethiopians working with the team were also wounded or killed in the attack.

The Chinese Government strongly condemns this armed outrage and extends condolences to the Chinese and Ethiopian victims and solicitudes to the bereaved and the injured. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia and relevant company have immediately launched emergency mechanism and made urgent representation to the Ethiopian Government, requiring it to spare no efforts in seeking and rescuing the kidnapped Chinese, ensuring their safe release and taking practical and effective measures to protect the safety of the Chinese lives and interests in Ethiopia. We also asked the Ethiopian Government to assist us to handle the aftermath. As we learnt from Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Government has sent more troops there.