Sudan investigates airstrikes on gold miners near border

At least 72 Sudanese gold miners were killed in airstrikes on October 10, 2026, in the northern Wadi region near the Egyptian border, according to figures released by the emergency lawyers group and reported by bbc.com, ajnet.me, and alarabiya.net. The reported death toll highlights a stark statistical gap among monitors and local networks, with Sudan’s Doctors Network placing the initial death count at 13 killed and 28 injured in the triangular border zone, while survivor testimonies gathered by human rights organizations claim up to 200 fatalities and 120 injuries following days of military reconnaissance.

Sudan Investigates Border Casualties While Competing Death Tolls Emerge

The Sudanese Sovereign Council, chaired by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced on October 12, 2026, that it formed an independent fact-finding committee to investigate the fatal incident, bbc.com reported. Sovereignty Council advisor Amjad Farid characterized the strike as an unjustified attack, stating on the platform X that legal channels exist to address border violations without resorting to aerial bombardment against civilians, according to bbc.com and ajnet.me. The Emergency Lawyers group alleged that the Egyptian air force carried out the attack inside Sudanese territory, accusing Cairo of seeking to expand control over natural resources, ajnet.me reported. In contrast, the Sudan Doctors Network noted that miners had previously received warnings from the Egyptian side to evacuate specific unauthorized extraction areas near the border, ajnet.me reported. The Sudanese Sovereign Council stressed the necessity of dealing with the incident seriously to uncover the facts and ensure the protection and respect of the borders, while noting that the leadership in both countries maintained contact immediately following the incident to preserve bilateral relations and share facts with the public.

Egyptian Military Enforces Eastern Desert Operations Amid Regional Tensions

In an official statement published on Facebook, the Egyptian military stated that enforcement forces dropped warning leaflets on criminal elements to enforce full state sovereignty and protect national wealth, bbc.com reported. The military statement did not explicitly address accusations of carrying out airstrikes across the Sudanese border, but emphasized deep political and popular ties between the two nations, noting that millions of Sudanese reside safely inside Egypt, CNN Arabic reported. Two Egyptian security officials told Agence France-Presse that the operation aimed to restore order along the 1,200-kilometer border and halt unauthorized attempts by Egyptian and Sudanese groups to control mining zones, alarabiya.net reported. The military called on the people of the Nile Valley to obtain information from official sources and avoid rumors and external agendas aimed at destabilizing fraternal relations.

Political Reactions and Border Security Demands Following the Mining Strike

Conversely, social media commentary supporting Egyptian border policies, cited by bbc.com, argued that miners repeatedly crossed the border illegally, associated with smuggling rings, and ignored prior warnings issued by authorities protecting national resources. The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has pushed millions into artisanal gold mining as a primary survival mechanism, while the contested Halayeb triangle and porous border zones remain flashpoints for smuggling and state security operations, ajnet.me reported.

Border Security Campaigns and Resource Protection

The Egyptian military previously announced campaigns on the southern borders to combat smuggling, irregular migration, and illegal prospecting, which it said resulted in confiscating equipment, detaining individuals, and deporting infiltrators.