Tragic Airstrike in Northern Sudan Claims the Lives of at Least 72 Artisanal Miners, Rights Group Reports

A rights monitor, Emergency Lawyers, reported that at least 72 artisanal miners lost their lives in an airstrike in northern Sudan on Saturday. This marks the second such incident to occur in the region within the span of several months.

Emergency Lawyers attributed the attack to the Egyptian air force, though Reuters could not immediately verify the claim. The Egyptian military declined to comment on the event, and Egypt’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for a statement.

Unverified images circulated on social media and by local rights groups depicted numerous bodies amidst rubble, along with individuals wrapped in funeral shrouds. Miners at the scene recounted the details of an airstrike hitting the area, with Emergency Lawyers stating that such a cross-border attack would constitute a violation of international law.

Northern Sudan has experienced a significant increase in artisanal miners and makeshift gold mines as the ongoing national conflict has severely impacted alternative livelihoods. Gold has emerged as a crucial cash generator for both warring factions, and sector experts indicate that a substantial portion of this gold is smuggled into Egypt.

The broader conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has driven a rise in mass-casualty events, increasingly characterized by drone warfare as the primary method of combat. Highlighting this trend, the United Nations reported that approximately 31 individuals were killed on Friday in a drone strike targeting a displacement camp located in an army-controlled area of Sudan’s Blue Nile state, which serves as one of the conflict's frontlines.