72 gold mine workers killed in airstrikes near Egypt-Sudan border

At least 72 workers have been killed in airstrikes targeting a gold mining site near the Egypt-Sudan border, according to media reports, with a rights organisation accusing the Egyptian air force of carrying out the attacks.

The reported strikes took place on Saturday at Jabal al-Uqaydat, an informal gold mining area near the disputed border. The allegations have not been independently verified by Agence France-Presse (AFP), and Egypt has not issued an official comment on the incident.

The attack is reportedly the second strike this year on the mining area. In June, 23 workers were allegedly killed in airstrikes attributed to Egypt at an informal gold mining site, according to the reports.

The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about the dangers facing workers in informal mining operations along the border, where valuable mineral resources and longstanding territorial disputes complicate the security situation.

Egypt has not claimed responsibility

The Egyptian military has not publicly claimed responsibility for the latest strikes. However, it has previously announced a large-scale operation against illegal gold mining within Egyptian territory.

The distinction is significant because the reported attack occurred near a disputed border area, and independent confirmation of the location, circumstances and responsibility for the deaths remains unavailable.

Emergency Lawyers, a rights organisation, has accused the Egyptian air force of carrying out the strikes. Further details about the victims, including their nationalities and the extent of damage to the mining site, were not immediately available.

Disputed border adds to regional tensions

The border between Egypt and Sudan remains disputed, with both countries claiming the resource-rich Halaib Triangle. Egypt exercises control over the area, which has long been a source of disagreement between the two neighbours.

The incident also comes amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Egypt is an important ally of the Sudanese military in the conflict.

While the reported deaths highlight the risks confronting workers in the border region, the circumstances surrounding the airstrikes remain unclear. Independent verification and an official response from Egyptian authorities are still awaited.