World · Africa · 6 hrs ago
Two Egyptian border guards killed in clash over illegal gold mining
Two senior Egyptian border guards were killed in an armed clash with people suspected of illegal gold mining.
The clash took place in the Eastern Desert near Egypt’s southern border, during a military campaign called Southern Shield.
The campaign has targeted illegal mining and networks that the army says are linked to weapons and drug smuggling and irregular migration.
It ran for more than four months, from June 14 to October 29, in three phases.
The army says it detained 691 people and seized weapons, ammunition, mining equipment and gold-bearing material.
The campaign aims to protect border areas and natural resources from illegal activity.
A fourth phase is due to begin on Saturday, according to the military spokesperson.
Two Egyptian border guards were killed in an armed clash with criminal elements involved in illegal gold mining.
The dead were identified as Colonel Ahmed Samir and Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Gouda, both serving in the southern military region.
The clash occurred during the military’s “Southern Shield” campaign in the Eastern Desert.
The campaign ran for more than four months, from June 14 to October 29, 2026.
The military said the campaign targeted illegal mining and associated criminal networks, and that its operations took place inside Egyptian territory.
- Who
- Colonel Ahmed Samir and Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Gouda were killed. The opposing armed elements were described as criminals involved in illegal gold mining.
- What
- An armed clash left the two border guards dead.
- When
- The exact date of the clash is not stated. It occurred during a campaign that ran from June 14 to October 29, 2026.
- Where
- The Eastern Desert of Egypt, in the southern military region.
- Why
- The clash involved criminal elements engaged in illegal gold mining, which the campaign aimed to confront.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The campaign’s first phase covered areas west of Marsa Alam and at Jabal Eiq, according to the military spokesperson.
The second phase took place in Wadi Dabour and the Baramiya area.
The third phase focused on resweeping areas targeted earlier.
Okaz reported the deaths and the military spokesperson’s account of the campaign.
- Deaths
- Colonel Ahmed Samir and Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Gouda
- Campaign
- Southern Shield
- Campaign period
- June 14–October 29, 2026
- People detained
- 691, including 540 foreigners and 151 Egyptians
- Weapons seized
- 34 assorted weapons and 317 rifles of different types
- Gold-bearing material
- About 860 tonnes of quarry material containing gold ore