AL-ANSARI – At least 53 Sudanese artisanal miners were reported killed in airstrikes on mining sites near Sudan’s border with Egypt on Saturday, Oct. 10, with miners accusing Egyptian forces of carrying out the attack.
The strikes targeted the Al-Uqaydat mine near Al-Ansari market in River Nile State, according to miners in the area, who said several warplanes struck mining locations in the Shamal al-Wadi area.
At least five strikes were reported, leaving dozens dead and wounded and forcing hundreds of miners to flee toward surrounding mountainous areas.
Miners said at least 20 injured people were taken to Al-Ansari market for treatment.
Sudan Now could not independently verify the reported death toll or determine which aircraft carried out the strikes.
There was no immediate comment from the Sudanese or Egyptian militaries, and Sudanese authorities had not issued an official account of the incident.
The reported attack follows similar incidents at mining sites in the border area in June, when miners and local media reported deaths, injuries and missing workers. Survivors at the time also accused Egyptian forces of carrying out the strikes, but responsibility was not independently established.
Artisanal gold mining is widespread in the area near the Sudan-Egypt border and provides income for thousands of Sudanese, particularly as the war that began in April 2023 has disrupted employment and economic activity across the country.
Miners say repeated attacks and border incidents have increased risks for workers operating in remote mining areas where access to medical services and official information is limited.
The preliminary figure of 53 deaths remains unconfirmed, and the circumstances of the attack and responsibility for it have not been independently established.
