Egypt military aircraft kill at least 72 gold miners in Sudan

Egyptian military aircraft have reportedly carried out a series of airstrikes on artisanal gold mining sites along the border between Egypt and Sudan, resulting in the deaths of dozens of miners. According to reports from the Emergency Lawyers rights organization and the Sudan Doctors Network, the strikes targeted civilians engaged in gold prospecting in Sudan's River Nile state. While initial assessments confirmed at least 72 fatalities, some medical groups have suggested the death toll could be significantly higher, with the Sudan Doctors Network reporting up to 200 deaths and over 120 injuries following the bombardment.

The strikes occurred during the early morning hours, with survivors describing a scene of chaos as multiple missiles were fired into the miners' camps. Witnesses and local monitors attributed the attack to the Egyptian air force, noting the specific types of aircraft and the precision of the strikes. This incident is reportedly the second time this year that the same mining location has been targeted by aerial forces, reflecting an intensification of military activity in the disputed border areas.

The context of the attack is rooted in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which has seen the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) locked in a violent struggle for control since April 2023. The conflict has devastated the national economy and displaced millions, forcing many civilians into the informal gold mining sector as a means of survival. The border regions have become increasingly volatile as neighboring interests and domestic factions compete for control over Sudan's lucrative mineral resources.

Humanitarian organizations and legal advocacy groups have condemned the airstrikes, warning that the targeting of civilian workers may constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law. There are growing concerns that the involvement of foreign military assets in Sudanese territory will further complicate the regional security situation and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. As the conflict continues, artisanal miners remain particularly vulnerable to the violence surrounding the control of mineral-rich territories.