Egyptian Air Strike Kills 72 in Sudan, Group Claims

At Least 72 Dead in Airstrike on Northern Mining Site

At least 72 people were killed when an airstrike hit the Jabal al-Ukaidat mine in northern Sudan near the Egyptian border, according to local monitors and news services. The Emergency Lawyers, a group monitoring the Sudanese civil war, stated that Egyptian fighter jets carried out the bombardment against miners at the site, calling the attack on unarmed civilians a violation of international law.

Death Toll Estimates Vary for October 10 Strike

Estimates of the death toll vary between different reporting channels on the ground. The Emergency Lawyers verified a minimum of 72 fatalities resulting from the October 10 strike at the northern mining location. Meanwhile, the France-based publication Sudan Tribune cited a survivor who put the death toll significantly higher, claiming that approximately 200 people died in the assault. Social media posts and local human rights organizations circulated images showing dozens of bodies scattered among the debris at the mining camp.

Sudan Gold Mine Airstrike: At Least 72 Workers Killed Near Egypt Border, Rights Group Says

Government Investigations and Prior Strikes on Jabal al-Ukaidat

This incident marks the second time the Jabal al-Ukaidat mining site has been struck during the ongoing conflict, with a previous attack occurring in June, as reported by Reuters. Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ordered a formal investigation into the event. Sudanese government forces are currently in communication with Egyptian authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the strike.

Civil War Drives Reliance on Artisanal Gold Mining

Sudan has been engulfed in a civil war since April 2023, fought between the national government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The prolonged conflict has shattered the country’s economic infrastructure, driving a heavy reliance on informal and artisanal gold mining. Much of the gold extracted from these small-scale operations is routinely smuggled across international borders, including into Egypt.

Cairo Border Security Operations Along the 1,200-Kilometer Frontier

While Egypt maintains diplomatic ties supporting the Sudanese government, Cairo views the 1,200-kilometer shared border as a major national security vulnerability, particularly due to the uncontrolled flow of unregulated extraction and illicit cross-border movement. UPI noted that the military action appears designed to project state control over a volatile frontier region.