Overview

• An artisanal shaft at the Kirsh al-Fil mine in northeastern Houeid collapsed over the weekend, killing 11 miners and injuring seven, the SMRC confirmed.
• The SMRC had previously suspended work at the mine over safety concerns and pledged to expand monitoring of informal shafts across Red Sea State.
• Since April 2023, revenues from gold extraction have financed both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the ongoing civil war.
• Experts warn that much of Sudan’s gold is trafficked through Chad, South Sudan or Egypt before reaching the United Arab Emirates, which denies accusations of arming the RSF.
• Traditional artisanal miners produced nearly 80% of Sudan’s record 64 tonne output in 2024, but frequent tunnel collapses highlight persistent regulatory gaps.