World · Africa · 54 mins ago
At least 72 miners killed in air strikes in northern Sudan, rights group says
At least 72 artisanal gold miners were killed in air strikes on Saturday in a remote area of northern Sudan near the Egyptian border.
Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers blamed Egypt’s air force, but the claim has not been independently verified, and Egypt has not commented.
The border area is disputed by Sudan and Egypt, and the strikes are the second such incident there this year.
Sudan’s war has disrupted livelihoods, while gold has become an important source of money for the warring sides.
The attacks highlight the risks facing miners and the growing importance of gold in the conflict.
Sudan Doctors Network warned that the death toll could rise because some people were badly injured and medical care is hard to reach.
At least 72 artisanal gold miners were killed in air strikes in northern Sudan, according to the rights group Emergency Lawyers.
The group said the strikes hit mining sites in a border region on Saturday.
Emergency Lawyers accused the Egyptian air force of carrying out the attack, but the claim could not be independently verified.
Egypt had not commented on the strikes, and the group said the death toll was provisional.
The attack comes amid Sudan’s civil war and tensions over gold mining and smuggling in the border area.
- Who
- At least 72 artisanal gold miners were killed. Emergency Lawyers reported the deaths.
- What
- Air strikes hit gold mining sites. Emergency Lawyers blamed the Egyptian air force, but the claim could not be independently verified.
- When
- Saturday; the reports were published on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- Where
- A remote border region in northern Sudan, near the Egypt-Sudan border.
- Why
- Not stated. The region has gold mines, and the sources describe concerns about illegal mining and gold smuggling.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians violates international humanitarian law and the right to life,
These acts may constitute war crimes.
The repeated attacks on the gold- and mineral-rich border regions reflect a desire by Egyptian authorities to expand and assert control over Sudan's natural resources,
Reports cited alleged strikes on mining sites in the same border region, followed by a large-scale Egyptian security operation.
Air strikes hit artisanal gold mining sites in the border region, killing at least 72 people, according to Emergency Lawyers.
Emergency Lawyers reported the death toll and accused the Egyptian air force of carrying out the strikes.
- Reported deaths
- At least 72 miners
- Reporting group
- Emergency Lawyers
- Attack timing
- Saturday
- Location
- Northern Sudan, near the Egypt-Sudan border
- Egyptian response
- No comment on the strikes was reported
- Death toll status
- Provisional and could rise
Sources
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