An air strike hit an artisanal gold mine near the Sudan-Egypt border on Saturday, killing at least 13 miners and wounding at least 28, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. A Sudanese rights group says 72 were killed and blames Egypt, which has not commented.
At a glance
- The Sudan Doctors Network says the death toll will likely rise because many of the wounded have serious injuries.
- The Emergency Lawyers group calls its figure of 72 preliminary. AFP could not independently verify it.
- Strikes at the same site in June killed 23 workers, according to AFP.
Background
Artisanal miners dig for gold by hand or with small machines, often in remote areas with no formal licence. In Sudan, gold has become central to the war that began in April 2023. Both sides earn from it, and much of the country's gold leaves through smuggling routes, including across the border with Egypt.
What happened
An aircraft struck an artisanal gold mine in a mountainous area near the Sudan-Egypt border on the morning of Saturday, October 10. AFP named the site as Jabal al-Uqaydat. The Associated Press described it as the Border Triangle Area, where Sudan, Egypt and Libya meet.
The Sudan Doctors Network, a medical group that tracks the conflict, said at least 13 miners were killed and at least 28 wounded. It said the toll would likely rise because some of the wounded are seriously hurt and have little access to health care.
A survivor, Abdelaziz Youssef, told AFP that a jet appeared at around 8 a.m. and "struck five times, many people were killed". Another miner, Sharaf Ali, said thousands of people were working at the site and nobody knows exactly how many died.
Who is blamed
The Associated Press reported that it was not immediately clear who carried out the strike. The Sudan Doctors Network said Egyptian authorities had repeatedly warned the miners to leave the area, which it said may lie inside Egypt.
The Emergency Lawyers, a Sudanese rights group, put the toll at 72 based on preliminary information. It accused the Egyptian air force and said the strike took place inside Sudan. Egypt has not commented, and its army has not claimed the strike.
Why it matters
This is the second deadly strike at the site this year. In June, when 23 workers were reported killed there, Egypt's army said it had carried out a "large-scale operation" against illegal gold mining inside Egyptian territory. It said 223 people were detained, including 136 foreigners.
Gold sits at the centre of Sudan's war. A 2024 United Nations Panel of Experts report, cited by the Associated Press, found that more than half of the gold mined in Sudan was smuggled out of the country.
Our read
Outlook: neutral. The strike hit small-scale artisanal mining, which does not move the global gold price. Its main impact is human and political.
What to watch
- A confirmed death toll as the Sudan Doctors Network and the Emergency Lawyers update their counts.
- Any statement from Egypt or its army about the strike.
- Whether Egypt steps up action against unlicensed gold mining along its southern border.
For information only, not investment advice.
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metalscost.com India reference price as of 2026-11-01.
Detailed analysis
Timeline
- 2023-04: War breaks out in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.
- 2026-06: Strikes kill 23 workers at Jabal al-Uqaydat. Egypt's army says it detained 223 people over illegal gold mining.
- 2026-10-10: An air strike hits the gold mine again, killing at least 13 miners according to the Sudan Doctors Network.
Geopolitical Risks
The strike adds to tension along the Sudan-Egypt border, where unlicensed gold mining has drawn military action twice this year.
Mining Production
Artisanal gold mining is a major source of income in Sudan, and much of the output is smuggled out of the country.
What could lift prices
- Conflict-linked risks to supply are one reason investors hold gold as a safe asset, though this strike is not large enough to move prices.
What could weigh on prices
- The strike affects artisanal output that is small in global terms, so it does not change gold supply in any meaningful way.
Country impact
| Country | Impact | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Sudan | High | Its artisanal miners were killed and wounded, and gold is central to its war economy. |
| Egypt | Medium | A Sudanese rights group blames its air force, and it has acted against illegal mining on the border before. |
Industry impact
| Industry | Effect | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Mining | Negative | Small-scale gold mining along the border has become deadly for workers. |
Who gains, who loses
- Artisanal miners in the border region: They have now been hit by two deadly strikes at the same site this year.
Other ways this could play out
- If Egypt confirms it carried out the strike, it would mark an open escalation against cross-border mining.
- If responsibility stays unclear, the dispute over the toll and the border is likely to continue.
Price risks
- Gold prices are driven by interest rates, the dollar and central bank buying, not by this artisanal site.
- Wider conflict along the Sudan-Egypt border could add to the safe-haven case for gold, but there is no sign of that yet.
Technical view
Price is trading below both its 20-period and 50-period moving averages, a bearish alignment.
Computed from metalscost.com's own stored price history.
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