Egyptian security forces detained hundreds of people, including foreigners, on the country's border with Sudan, accusing them of illegal gold mining and smuggling, the military said Monday. The operation took place in Egypt's southern region, which is rich with gold mines and where the government has launched major mining projects, including the Sukari megaproject.
Detainees and Seized Equipment
The military statement said the detainees included 87 Egyptians and 136 other foreigners, without naming their countries. The operation also involved the seizure of "large amounts of equipment and devices used in illegal mining operations," according to the military.
The region borders Sudan, which is also rich with gold mines. With the chaos of Sudan's three-year war, much of the mining there is unregulated. More than 50 percent of gold mined in Sudan was smuggled out of the country, according to a UN Panel of Experts Report in 2024. Gold accounts for 70 percent of the country's revenue.
Border Crossing Incidents
Video clips posted online showed hundreds of Sudanese people at a border crossing between Egypt and Sudan, with Sudanese media reporting they were miners detained and expelled by the Egyptian government. Sudan's top general, Abdel-Fattah Burhan, was in gold-rich northeastern Sudan on Monday. He said in a statement that the government "affirms our full appreciation and respect for our neighboring countries (to the north and east), and we call upon our citizens to not move toward the borders to incite any problems." He also added that the government was working to combat illegal smuggling and mining and would investigate.
Gold as a Central Factor in the War
Gold has been a central part of the war in Sudan between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who have smuggled out thousands of tons of gold from the Darfur and Kordofan regions to fund themselves. The Egyptian military said a number of suspected gold miners surrendered to Egyptian authorities and were later sent back to their home country. It did not elaborate on the nationalities of those who were detained or expelled. The Egyptian military also warned that "it retains all available options to deal with all threats."
