Sudan orders probe into deadly airstrike on gold miners near Egypt border

Sudan's Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan said he has ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the airstrike that killed gold miners near the Egyptian border, amid conflicting reports on the number of casualties.

According to Asharq, political and human rights groups estimated the death toll at around 200, while other sources reported lower figures. No official count has been released.

Witnesses said airstrikes targeted mining camps and wells on Saturday morning, causing some to collapse on workers. The identity of the aircraft has not been independently verified.

The Sovereign Council confirmed ongoing communication with Cairo to clarify the circumstances, without naming those responsible or providing a timeline for the investigation. Some Sudanese groups have called for an independent inquiry.

It is noteworthy that unidentified aircraft carried out multiple airstrikes on the Akidat artisanal gold mine near the Sudan-Egypt border on Saturday.

This is the second attack on the mine, following a similar strike in June that killed and injured dozens of Sudanese miners. The party responsible for the latest airstrikes remains unknown.