6 Sudanese migrants killed, 11 injured in Egypt near Israeli border
November 23, 2015 (CAIRO) – Six illegal Sudanese migrants have been killed and eleven others wounded in Sinai Peninsula near Israel boarders, said Egyptian sources.
Egyptian medical and security sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that bodies of six Sudanese migrants were found in Sinai near the Israeli border on Monday, adding that eleven others were also wounded by gunshots as the group attempted to reach Israel.
The circumstances of the shooting were not immediately clear.
Egyptian border police often shoots at African immigrants attempting to infiltrate the Israeli borders from Sinai Peninsula where the Egyptian army is fighting against Jihadist insurgency since 2013.
Last week, 15 Sudanese migrants trying to cross from Egypt into Israel were shot and killed at the border.
Sudan’s embassy in Cairo submitted a memo to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry inquiring about the killing of the migrants and the recent surge of harassment of Sudanese citizens.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry cited the possibility of individual cases of abuses by the country’s security services against Sudanese citizens and said an investigation is underway by the relevant agencies.
EGYPTIAN BORDER POLICE ARRESTS SUDANESE MINERS
Meanwhile, several Egyptian media sites said the border police has arrested fifteen Sudanese miners at Wadi al-Atron protected area, 40 kilometres from Marsa Alam in the south of the Red Sea.
According to the media sites, Sudanese miners illegally travel to the 7450 kilometres protected zone to prospect for gold.
The legal affairs official at Wadi el-Gamal protected area Mohamed Shazali said he accompanied the border intelligence force which arrested the Sudanese miners, noting they were captured inside a cave in Hangalia area.
He added the 15 Sudanese miners were holding valid passports and identity cards but noted that residency of 6 of them had expired.
Shazali pointed the miners, who came from Sudan to prospect for gold, work for Egyptian gold gangs in Hangalia area, saying the area is rich of gold and was discovered by the British.
The Egyptian official said the 15 Sudanese miners were handed over to the police in Maras Alam while their mobile phones were given to the mineral wealth corporation, saying charges have been filed against them and the prosecution office was informed to launch the investigation.
In May 2011, the Egyptian authorities arrested 73 Sudanese traditional miners who unknowingly crossed the borders in search for gold.
(ST)