Egypt says border strikes targeted illicit gold mining networks
October 22, 2026 (CAIRO) – Egypt’s military said on Monday it had launched the third phase of an operation against illegal gold mining in areas near the Sudanese border, targeting what it described as criminal elements.
On Saturday morning, warplanes struck artisanal gold mining sites along the border where thousands of Sudanese miners were working, killing scores of people and forcing survivors to flee into nearby mountains and caves.
The incident sparked anger on social media and drew accusations that Egypt was behind the strikes, with Sudanese political factions, armed groups, rights organizations, and trade unions demanding an independent international inquiry.
Following the outcry, Sudan’s military chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ordered the formation of an investigative committee comprising judicial and military officials to determine the circumstances of the attack.
An Egyptian military spokesperson said in a statement that armed forces and police units were carrying out the third phase of a major campaign against illicit gold prospecting in the Eastern Desert.
The spokesperson said the operation followed the dropping of warning leaflets on criminal networks to assert state sovereignty and protect national resources within Egyptian territory.
The spokesperson emphasized ties between Cairo and Khartoum, pointing to the peaceful coexistence of millions of Sudanese residing in Egypt as evidence of bilateral cooperation.
He urged citizens of the Nile Valley nations to rely on official sources and reject external agendas aimed at destabilizing relations between the two peoples.
Miners working in the area said Egyptian border guards accuse Sudanese prospectors of crossing into Egyptian territory to mine near a concession operated by an Egyptian company.
In June, the Egyptian military acknowledged conducting operations against drug trafficking, illegal migration, and unauthorized gold prospecting along the southern border, which resulted in the detention of 223 Egyptians and foreign nationals alongside the seizure of vehicles and weapons.