RSF drones attack artisanal gold mine in South Kordofan

October 17, 2026 (GEDEIR) – Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drones attacked an artisanal gold mine in South Kordofan state, causing material damage to targeted sites, officials said on Saturday.

The strike marks the second attack of its kind on the mine in less than a week.

The site is known for high gold production and employs many traditional miners.

The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company said in a statement on Saturday that RSF drones targeted the Bajoun mine market in South Kordofan on Friday.

The company said the attack hit four water-mill processing complexes, causing severe material damage, according to preliminary reports.

Mohamed Abdel Rahim, director of the General Administration for Environment and Safety at the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company, said initial reports indicated no deaths or injuries.

He noted that the strike coincided with the Friday weekend, when workers were absent from the targeted facilities.

Abdel Rahim added that the company is monitoring the incident’s fallout in coordination with relevant authorities to assess damage and verify losses.

The eastern region of South Kordofan hosts thousands of traditional miners operating across gold-rich sites in the Gedeir, Al-Leri, and Talodi localities.

These mines border areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which is allied with the RSF.