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.