SUDAN · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —What happened Air strikes hit the Al-Aqeedat gold mine on Saturday, 10 October.
- —Where River Nile State, near Sudan’s border with Egypt.
- —Casualties Sudan Tribune reports dozens killed; a miner counts at least 20 wounded.
- —Official response Sudanese authorities had made no comment, Sudan Tribune said.
- —Background The same site was bombed in June; survivors blamed Egyptian aircraft.
- —Still open Who flew the aircraft and the exact death toll.
Unidentified warplanes struck an artisanal gold mine near the Egyptian border on Saturday, the second deadly raid on the area since June.
Dozens of Sudanese gold miners were killed and others wounded on Saturday, 10 October, Sudan Tribune reported. Air strikes hit mining sites near Sudan’s border with Egypt.
The independent Sudanese news outlet said hundreds of miners fled into nearby mountains.
No one has claimed the strikes, and Sudanese authorities had not commented by Saturday night. The remote border gold fields have become a flashpoint between Sudan and Egypt, a close US security partner.
What Sudan Tribune Reported
Merghani Malik, a miner in the North Wadi area, told Sudan Tribune that warplanes carried out more than five air strikes. He said they hit miners’ sites at the Al-Aqeedat mine, close to the Al-Ansari mining market in River Nile State.
Malik said the strikes caused an unknown number of deaths and injuries. He said at least 20 wounded people were taken to the Al-Ansari market for treatment.
According to Malik, the attacks drove thousands of miners to flee into the mountains, where they have no drinking water. Sudan Tribune said miners posted videos and photographs of victims from the scene.
The outlet did not say who flew the aircraft.
People working in the area told it that Egyptian border guards accuse Sudanese miners of crossing into Egypt. The guards say miners dig near a site run by an Egyptian mining company.
A Repeat of the June Raids
The same area was hit on Tuesday, 16 June, and the following day.
Radio Dabanga, an independent Sudanese broadcaster, said warplanes suspected to be Egyptian struck mines about 20 kilometres from the border. A ground operation accompanied the raids.
Survivors told Radio Dabanga that more than 50 Sudanese miners were killed in June. Some of the wounded were taken to hospitals in Atbara and Abu Hamad, two towns in River Nile State.
Amgad Farid advises the head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereignty Council. He called the June events between Egyptian forces and Sudanese miners violent and painful.
Farid said they deserved serious handling at the highest level between the two governments.
In June, Egypt’s army acknowledged a campaign against drug smuggling, irregular migration and gold prospecting near its southern border, Sudan Tribune noted. That campaign led to the arrest of 223 Egyptians and foreigners, the army said at the time.
Earlier, in March, nine Sudanese miners were killed in clashes with Egyptian border guards, the Darfur24 news site reported. Radio Dabanga later reported that army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan promised an investigation into the June attack.
Why Sudan’s Gold Fields Matter
Artisanal gold mining in Sudan employs more than two million people, Sudan Tribune said. That number grew sharply after the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023.
These small-scale Sudanese gold miners produce more than 80% of the gold extracted in the country, according to the outlet. Gold is Sudan’s main export and a key source of hard currency for the army-led government.
The border mines sit in the Nubian Desert, far from hospitals and paved roads. In June, survivors described walking for a full day through the desert to reach safety.
The Saturday reports came as violence spread elsewhere in Sudan.
On the same day, the United Nations condemned the killing of 31 civilians in Blue Nile state, Darfur24 reported. Blue Nile lies near the Ethiopian border.
What It Means for US Readers
Egypt is one of Washington’s closest Arab partners. It has received more than US$50 billion in US military aid since 1978, the State Department says.
Any confirmed Egyptian role in strikes inside Sudan would raise questions in Congress about how that aid is used.
Sudan’s gold also feeds a war that the United States is trying to end through diplomacy. Washington has sanctioned the leaders of both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
For travellers, the US State Department keeps Sudan at Level 4, “Do Not Travel”. Businesses buying African gold should check supply chains for metal from conflict-hit Sudanese mines.
What Is Not Known
The death toll is unconfirmed. Sudan Tribune reported dozens of deaths, but the miner it quoted said the number of dead was unknown.
It is not known who carried out Saturday’s strikes. No government, army or armed group had claimed them, and no Egyptian reaction had been reported by Sunday morning.
No second independent outlet had confirmed the Saturday raid by Sunday morning. The exact distance of the Al-Aqeedat mine from the border was also not given.
What Comes Next
Local volunteers are likely to try to reach miners who fled into the mountains, as they did in June. A statement from Sudan’s army or government in Port Sudan would be the first official account.
After the June raids, Sudanese parties called for an international inquiry. The new reports do not by themselves show a change in relations between Khartoum’s army-led government and Cairo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Did the Air Strikes Happen?
They hit the Al-Aqeedat gold mine near the Al-Ansari mining market in River Nile State, northern Sudan. The area lies close to the border with Egypt.
How Many People Were Killed?
Sudan Tribune reported dozens of deaths, but no official toll exists. A miner said at least 20 wounded people were treated at the Al-Ansari market.
Who Carried Out the Strikes?
No one has claimed them, and Sudanese authorities had not commented. Survivors of similar raids on the same site in June blamed Egyptian aircraft.
Why Do So Many Sudanese Mine Gold?
Artisanal mining employs more than two million people and grew after the war began in April 2023. These miners produce more than 80% of Sudan’s gold, Sudan Tribune said.
Is It Safe for Americans to Travel to Sudan?
No. The US State Department advises Americans not to travel to Sudan, its highest warning level.
Sources: Sudan Tribune (Arabic), 10 October 2026; Radio Dabanga (Arabic), 19 June 2026; Radio Dabanga (Arabic), 18 June 2026; Radio Dabanga; Darfur24 (Arabic); Darfur24 (Arabic), 10 October 2026; US State Department; US State Department, US Relations With Egypt (all accessed 11 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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