Egyptian military intensifies crackdown on illegal gold mining, warns against rumors targeting Sudan ties

Egypt’s armed forces have announced the continuation of the third phase of their large-scale campaign to combat illegal gold ore mining in the Eastern Desert, while reaffirming the deep historical, political, and popular ties with Sudan and warning against rumors and foreign agendas aimed at destabilizing the region and harming the fraternal relationship between the two countries.

In an official statement, the Egyptian military spokesperson said that law enforcement units from the armed forces and police are pressing ahead with the campaign, following the distribution of warning leaflets to criminal elements. The operation aims to assert full sovereignty and protect the nation’s resources and wealth.

He added that field operations are focused on securing border areas and pursuing networks involved in unregulated and illegal mining, stressing that the campaign is part of efforts to safeguard national resources and prevent any threat to the country’s border security.

The third phase builds on efforts launched in the first phase, after the military spokesperson recently announced the start of the second phase, which saw intensified search and raid operations in border regions. These efforts are coordinated between the armed forces, police, and all state agencies to monitor illegal gold mining activities and protect Egypt’s national wealth.

In a related context, the spokesperson highlighted the deep historical, political, and popular bonds between the Egyptian and Sudanese peoples, noting that the peaceful coexistence and care provided to millions of Sudanese residents in Egypt are a testament to the enduring strength of relations between the two countries.

The General Command of the Armed Forces called on the people of the Nile Valley to rely on official and accredited sources for information and news, urging caution and not to be swayed by misleading rumors or foreign agendas seeking to undermine stability and target the brotherly relations between Egypt and Sudan.