11 Miners Killed, 7 Injured in Partial Collapse of Traditional Gold Mine in Northeastern Sudan

Eleven miners were killed and seven others injured following a partial collapse in a traditional gold mine in northeastern Sudan, according to a statement released by the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC), as the civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its third year.

The company stated on Sunday that the incident occurred over the weekend at the Kirsh al-Fil mine, located in the remote desert area of Howeid, between the SAF-controlled cities of Atbara and Haiya in the Red Sea State.

The SMRC noted that it had previously suspended operations at the mine and had “warned against the continuation of activities due to the significant danger it posed to lives.”

The tragedy highlights the fragile and unsafe conditions of Sudan’s traditional mining sector, which lacks basic safety standards and frequently uses toxic chemicals that contribute to widespread health issues in surrounding areas.

Sudan is one of Africa’s largest gold producers, but the majority of production comes from artisanal and small-scale mining, which employed more than two million people before the outbreak of war.

Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, both the SAF and RSF have heavily relied on gold revenues to finance their operations. Large quantities of gold are reportedly smuggled to Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, before making their way to the United Arab Emirates — the world’s second-largest gold exporter — amid accusations that the UAE has supported the RSF, which Abu Dhabi denies.

Despite the severe economic collapse triggered by the war, the army-backed government announced a record gold output of 64 tonnes in 2024.

Mining collapses have become tragically common in Sudan. In 2023, a similar incident claimed the lives of 14 miners, and another collapse in 2021 killed 38 people.

The ongoing war has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 13 million people internally, while over 4 million others have fled across borders, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis today.

Currently, the Sudanese Armed Forces control the north and east of the country, including the capital Khartoum, while the RSF maintains dominance over most of western Sudan, particularly the Darfur region.