In brief
Two officers were killed while the Egyptian army launched a major operation to halt illegal gold mining along its southern border with Sudan. The campaign has detained 151 Egyptians and 540 foreigners, and follows an earlier airstrike that killed 72 artisanal miners in northern Sudan. Egyptian officials say the operation is part of a coordinated effort with Sudan to secure the border and protect national resources.
In an operation along Egypt’s southern border with Sudan, two Egyptian army officers were killed during a crackdown on illegal gold mining.
The incidents came as the army entered the fourth phase of a multi‑phase campaign that began in June to stop artisanal diggers from extracting gold in the Eastern Desert. While the report did not specify the exact timing of the officers’ deaths, the spokesperson said that a senior border guard officer and another officer were among the casualties.
According to Reuters, the first three phases of the drive have already been completed, and the military said the fourth phase was scheduled to begin on Saturday. The operation is described as part of Egypt’s effort to strengthen state control over its territory and protect national resources.
The spokesperson also reported that the campaign had detained 151 Egyptians and 540 foreigners. The numbers reflect individuals linked to illegal mining operations that the army says threaten the security of the border region.
These events follow a tragic airstrike in northern Sudan that killed at least 72 artisanal miners, a death toll reported by the rights monitor Emergency Lawyers in October. The group blamed the Egyptian Air Force for the strike, although Egypt’s military did not confirm the report in its statements at the time.
The military spokesperson said there was a coordinated effort with Sudan, noting recent meetings between officials from both countries. “The armed forces of both countries exchanged information on securing the Egypt‑Sudan border,” the spokesperson said, according to Reuters. The collaboration aims to reduce the flow of smuggled gold and to curb illegal mining along the disputed border, which includes the mineral‑rich Halayeb and Shalateen regions.
Egyptian officials maintain that the crackdown is necessary because artisanal gold mining has surged in northern Sudan since the civil war disrupted livelihoods. Both parties claim that the mining activity feeds smuggling networks that cross the porous frontier into Egypt, undermining the economy and the security of local communities.
Reuters reports that the Egyptian military has dropped warning leaflets on what it describes as “criminal elements” before launching military operations. The leaves were aimed at discouraging the continued illegal extraction of gold in the border area.
While no high‑level international statements have been issued, the situation underscores the broader challenges of managing border security and resource protection in a region where artisanal mining and smuggling remain persistent problems. The deaths of the officers highlight the dangers faced by Egyptian forces as they pursue a campaign that has already resulted in hundreds of detentions and allegations of cross‑border cooperation.