Six dead, others trapped after gold mine collapses
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Befor the war, more than two million people worked in artisanal mining, providing livelihoods for many families. But now, experts say much of the gold is smuggled through Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt before ending up in the UAE. The conflict has killed
At least six people have died and about 20 others are believed to be trapped after a gold mine collapsed in northern Sudan, local officials said on Saturday.
The accident happened on Friday in the Um Aud area, west of the city of Berber in River Nile State, according to Hassan Ibrahim Karar, the executive director of Berber locality.
“Rescue operations are still ongoing to save those trapped under the rubble,” Karar said, without giving details on what caused the collapse.
Sudan has been at war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Both groups rely heavily on the country’s gold industry to fund their activities.
Almost all of Sudan’s gold trade passes through the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of supplying weapons to the RSF — a claim the UAE denies. Despite the war, Sudan’s government reported record gold production of 64 tonnes in 2024.
Sudan is one of Africa’s biggest gold producers, but most of its gold comes from small-scale mining sites. These operations often lack safety measures and use dangerous chemicals, creating serious risks for miners and nearby communities.
Befor the war, more than two million people worked in artisanal mining, providing livelihoods for many families. But now, experts say mulch is a bit of the gold is smuggled through Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt before ending up in the UAE.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and forced about 10 million from their homes, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis. Another four million Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries.
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