By Anietie anii-bassey
Egyptian security forces have detained hundreds of people, including dozens of foreign nationals, during a large-scale operation targeting illegal gold mining and smuggling activities along the country’s southern border with Sudan, according to a statement released by the Egyptian military on Monday.
The operation underscores growing concerns over unregulated mining activities in one of the region’s most resource-rich areas, where gold deposits have attracted thousands of miners seeking economic opportunities amid instability and weak border controls.
Authorities said the campaign was aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks and curbing the smuggling of precious metals across the porous frontier shared by Egypt and Sudan.
According to the military, security forces arrested a total of 223 individuals, including 87 Egyptian citizens and 136 foreign nationals. Officials did not disclose the nationalities of the foreign detainees. During the operation, authorities also confiscated large quantities of equipment, machinery and devices allegedly used in unauthorized mining activities.
Egypt’s southern territories contain some of the country’s most significant gold reserves. In recent years, the government has invested heavily in expanding the mining sector, promoting major projects such as the Sukari gold mine, one of the largest gold-producing operations in the region.
Officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of regulating mining activities to protect national resources and increase state revenues.
The border region with Sudan has become increasingly sensitive as Sudan continues to grapple with a devastating conflict that has entered its third year.
The war has disrupted government oversight in large parts of Sudan, particularly in mineral-rich areas where gold mining remains a crucial source of income. The absence of effective regulation has fueled extensive smuggling networks that transport gold across borders and into international markets.
A 2024 report by a United Nations Panel of Experts estimated that more than half of Sudan’s gold production was being smuggled out of the country. Gold remains one of Sudan’s most valuable economic assets, accounting for approximately 70 percent of government revenue and serving as a critical source of foreign currency.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show large crowds of Sudanese nationals gathered at a border crossing between Egypt and Sudan.
Several Sudanese media outlets reported that many of those individuals were miners who had been detained by Egyptian authorities before being expelled from the country. Egyptian officials have not publicly confirmed those reports, nor have they provided detailed information regarding the identities of those removed from Egyptian territory.
The military stated that a number of suspected miners voluntarily surrendered to Egyptian authorities during the operation. These individuals were subsequently returned to their countries of origin, though officials declined to specify which countries were involved.
The developments come as Sudan’s military leadership seeks to address concerns over illegal mining and cross-border smuggling. On Monday, Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, visited the gold-rich northeastern region of Sudan and issued a statement urging citizens to avoid moving toward border areas in ways that could create tensions with neighboring countries.
Burhan emphasized Sudan’s commitment to maintaining positive relations with neighboring states and called on citizens to refrain from actions that could trigger disputes along the borders.
He also stated that Sudanese authorities were continuing efforts to combat illegal mining and smuggling activities and pledged that investigations would be conducted into any reported violations.
Gold has become a central factor in Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Analysts and international observers have long argued that control over gold-producing regions has helped finance military operations, with both sides accused of benefiting from illicit trade networks. Large quantities of gold from the Darfur and Kordofan regions have reportedly been smuggled abroad, generating revenue that has helped sustain the conflict.
Egyptian authorities have increasingly intensified border security measures in response to concerns that instability in Sudan could fuel illegal migration, arms trafficking and the expansion of smuggling operations. The military stressed that it remains committed to protecting national security and safeguarding the country’s natural resources.
In its statement, the Egyptian military warned that it would continue to take decisive action against illegal activities along the border and declared that it retains all available options to confront any threats to the country’s security and economic interests.
The latest operation signals Cairo’s determination to tighten control over strategic mining regions as authorities seek to prevent the loss of valuable resources and curb the influence of transnational smuggling networks operating across the Egypt-Sudan frontier.
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