In brief
At least 72 men and women searching for gold in the Sudanese border region were hit by missile strikes on Saturday, emergency lawyers say. Egyptian jets reportedly dropped more than five missiles on the camps, destroying equipment and killing unarmed civilians. Authorities from both Sudan and Egypt have not commented, while Sudan’s de‑facto leader has announced an investigation. The incident highlights the broader dispute over illegal mining and cross‑border smuggling that fuels regional tensions.
A sudden volley of missiles erupted over the River Nile state of Sudan on Saturday, devastating a cluster of artisanal mining camps and leaving at least 72 civilians dead, emergency lawyers say. Workers—many of them men in simple clothing—had been searching for gold with metal detectors, a practice that is both common and highly risky in the region.
Emergency Lawyers, headquartered in Khartoum, identified the attackers as Egyptian jets and claimed the pilots targeted the camps with more than five missiles. The strikes came early in the day, around 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT), and destroyed dwellings and excavation pits that still contained people.
Both Sudan and Egypt have yet to issue any statement. Cairo has previously faced accusations of similar shelling to curb illegal mining along its southern border, while Khartoum’s de‑facto leader has promised an inquiry.
The incident underscores a longer‑standing friction over gold, a resource that fuels smuggling and, according to some analysts, supports armed groups in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. In June, Egyptian border forces seized 86 tonnes of ore and amateur prospecting gear from the same territory.
United Nations observers have warned that deliberate attacks on civilians violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes. The death toll could rise as survivors and witnesses account for more injuries.
The clash over control of these gold‑rich lands reflects a deeper uncertainty where Sudan’s fragile governance collides with Egypt’s security ambitions. As investigations unfold, the international community watches closely for any sign that the region’s fragile peace will collapse entirely.
