Air strikes targeting gold prospectors in a border region of Sudan have left at least 72 civilians dead, according to a regional rights group reported by BBC News. Emergency Lawyers, based in Khartoum, stated that jets targeted artisanal miners at a popular gold mining site in Sudan's River Nile state on Saturday.

According to the Paris-based Sudan Tribune, a survivor of the attack reported that many more people had been injured and that the death toll could far exceed the initial figures provided by Emergency Lawyers. Eyewitnesses cited by the Sudan Tribune described the attack as beginning around 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT), with aircraft firing more than five missiles directly at the miners' camps and destroying excavation pits with people inside.

Neither the Egyptian government nor the de facto Sudanese authorities have commented on the incident, BBC News reported. However, Cairo has previously faced accusations of conducting deadly strikes on gold prospectors during crackdowns on illicit activity along its southern border.

Emergency Lawyers stated that the alleged attacks violate international humanitarian law and the right to life, warning they may constitute war crimes. The group also noted that the incident demonstrates a lack of government control over the region and represents a violation of Sudan's sovereign territory, as reported by BBC News.

Background

According to BBC News and the Sudan Tribune, Sudan's ongoing civil war has driven a surge in artisanal mining, a risky practice where civilians use rudimentary tools without official permission, particularly in remote border areas. These gold-rich regions in River Nile state lie along porous borders historically associated with cross-border smuggling routes.

The Sudan Tribune reported that in June, Egyptian forces allegedly used drones and artillery to target artisanal mining sites in the same region, resulting in several deaths. Those actions followed sporadic incidents involving Egyptian border guards burning equipment, torching temporary shelters, and using live ammunition against mine workers.

Following the reported June incidents, Egypt's border agency announced a sweeping security campaign alongside the military to target illegal migration, drug smuggling, and illegal mining along the border. At the same time, Sudan's de facto leader announced an investigation into the alleged strikes, according to BBC News. Egypt's border force reported seizing 86 tonnes of gold ore and amateur prospecting equipment in June, raising concerns that illicit Sudanese gold could undermine legitimate Egyptian interests as smuggled gold may serve as a funding source for armed insurgent groups operating in conflict zones.

Why it matters

For international observers and readers following regional security, the incident highlights the complex interplay between porous borders, internal conflict, and informal economies in North Africa. The event underscores the vulnerabilities faced by civilian workers in remote conflict zones and the broader challenges of border management when neighbouring states grapple with civil unrest.