Egypt Intensifies Military Crackdown on Illegal Gold Mining Near Sudan Border
Egyptian authorities have detained hundreds of people in a campaign against illegal gold mining near Sudan, as the operation faces scrutiny following reports of deadly airstrikes on mining sites in the border region.
Abuja,Nigeria — Egypt's military has stepped up operations against illegal gold mining activities near its southern border with Sudan, arresting hundreds of people and seizing equipment linked to unauthorised mining.
According to military spokesman Ahmed Etman, the operation resulted in the arrest of 151 Egyptians and 540 foreign nationals. He also reported that more than 6,000 people surrendered before the military campaign began.
The operation forms part of Egypt's efforts to strengthen control over its border areas and protect its mineral resources from illegal exploitation.
The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over the dangers facing artisanal gold miners in the region. In October, at least 72 miners were reportedly killed in an airstrike on a gold mining site near the Sudan-Egypt border, according to the Sudanese rights organisation Emergency Lawyers.
The organisation accused the Egyptian Air Force of carrying out the attack. However, the allegation has not been independently confirmed, and Egypt's military has not directly addressed the reported incident.
More recently, Egypt's military announced that two army officers, including a senior border guard officer, had been killed during the wider campaign against illegal gold mining. The circumstances and timing of their deaths were not specified.
The developments highlight the security challenges surrounding gold extraction and cross-border activities in an area where Sudan's ongoing conflict has also contributed to the growth of informal mining and gold smuggling.
