Tragedy struck northeastern Sudan over the weekend as a partial collapse at a traditional gold mine claimed the lives of at least 11 miners and left seven others injured.
The incident, confirmed by Sudan’s state-owned Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC), occurred in a remote desert region known as Howeid, within the Kirsh al-Fil artisanal gold mine in Red Sea state.
In a statement released Sunday, SMRC revealed that the collapse happened within a hand-dug artisanal shaft — the kind of operation that has come to dominate Sudan’s gold industry amid years of conflict, limited regulation, and growing economic desperation.
The deadly accident comes as Sudan continues to grapple with a brutal war between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023.
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The conflict, now in its third year, has devastated Sudan’s already fragile economy and pushed the nation into the world’s largest displacement crisis. Over 10 million people have been forced from their homes, while another 4 million have fled across borders.
Gold has become a vital source of funding for both warring sides. Sudan’s vast artisanal mining industry — operating with minimal oversight — has seen a surge in activity, fueling both economic survival and conflict financing.
Despite the chaos, the army-backed government recently reported a record gold output of 64 tonnes in 2024, underscoring the growing reliance on the sector.
Official and NGO reports indicate that the majority of Sudan’s gold is funneled through the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which faces widespread accusations of supporting the RSF with arms and resources. Much of the gold is believed to be smuggled through Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt before reaching the UAE — the world’s second-largest gold exporter.
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SMRC said it had previously suspended operations at the Kirsh al-Fil site and issued warnings about the risks involved. “We had warned against its continuing activity due to its posing great risk to life,” the agency stated.
Yet, in the lawless environment of Sudan’s conflict zones, safety enforcement is nearly impossible, particularly in remote regions dominated by artisanal mining.
These small-scale mines, unlike industrial facilities, often lack basic safety protocols and use hazardous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. The result is not just a high death toll from collapses, but also widespread environmental damage and health crises in surrounding communities.
Before the war, Sudan’s artisanal gold mining sector employed over two million people. Today, it remains a lifeline for many, even as it becomes a flashpoint for exploitation, smuggling, and deadly accidents like this one.
As Sudan’s war rages on and gold continues to fuel competing power centers, the collapse at Kirsh al-Fil is a stark reminder of the human cost behind the country’s most valuable resource.
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