A partial collapse in a decommissioned gold mine in northern Sudan has killed 15 miners, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) said on Monday. The miners had sneaked into the shut-down Mohamed Tawfiq mine in Wadi Halfa, near the Egyptian border, when parts of the mine gave way, killing 15 and injuring one.
War Drives Desperate Gold Rush
Since war erupted in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, both sides have relied heavily on Sudan's gold industry to fund their war efforts, along with foreign backers. The conflict has devastated Sudan's fragile economy, leaving much of the population unemployed and pushing many into a dangerous gold rush.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining, which occurs in unofficial zones or decommissioned mines, accounts for the majority of gold extracted in Sudan. These operations lack proper safety measures and use hazardous chemicals that often cause widespread illness in nearby communities.
Millions Depend on Artisanal Mining
Even before the war pushed 25 million Sudanese into acute food insecurity, artisanal mining employed more than two million people, according to industry figures. Africa's third-largest country is one of the continent's top gold producers. SMRC reported a five-year high in production of 70 tons in 2025.
However, officials say much of the gold is smuggled across Sudan's borders, including through Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, before reaching the United Arab Emirates, the world's second-largest gold exporter. Of last year's 70 tons, only 20 tons were exported through official channels, army-aligned Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim told AFP.
