Sudan gold mine collapse kills 10, injures 21 near Egypt border

September 22, 2026 at 01:54 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A gold mine collapse in northern Sudan killed at least 10 people and injured 21 on Sunday near the Egyptian border. Survivors said search operations continued for people believed trapped beneath the rubble. The disaster follows a separate collapse in West Kordofan that left at least 82 dead.

Key Facts

The collapse occurred Sunday at the Awny mining area near Sudan's border with Egypt.
Miners recovered 10 bodies and pulled 21 injured workers from the site.
A separate collapse at the al-Zaraa mine near en-Nahud in West Kordofan killed at least 82 people days earlier.
Sudan produced 70 tonnes of gold last year and recorded 64 tonnes in 2024, generating $1.57bn in legal export revenues.
In March 2025, Sudan filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing the UAE of supporting the RSF using gold.

The Collapse

The collapse took place on Sunday at the Awny mining area near Sudan's border with Egypt. Miners told the AFP news agency they had recovered 10 bodies and pulled 21 injured workers from the site. The search continued for people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, though the exact number trapped remains unclear. The disaster comes just days after a collapse at the al-Zaraa mine near en-Nahud in West Kordofan State left at least 82 people dead.

Gold Sector Pressures

Sudan is one of Africa's top gold producers, recording 70 tonnes of production last year, according to the Sudanese government. In July 2025, local agencies reported gold production reached 64 tonnes in 2024, 53 percent higher than the 41.8 tonnes recorded in 2022, generating $1.57bn in legal export revenues. Fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has devastated businesses, disrupted agriculture, and weakened the formal economy. Joseph Tucker, senior analyst on the Horn of Africa at the International Crisis Group, said much of Sudan's gold is taken out through smuggling or illicit networks instead of government channels.

International Scrutiny

Most of Sudan's gold exports end up in the UAE. In March 2025, Sudan went to the International Court of Justice accusing the UAE of supporting and funding the RSF using gold. The UAE has denied accusations that it supplies weapons to the RSF. Port Sudan, the country's main port, is home to most of the gold deposits and has been largely controlled by the Sudanese Army since the war began.