Airstrike kills 72 miners at Sudan-Egypt border camp

At least 72 miners were killed in an airstrike on the Sudan‑Egypt border, a human rights group said on Thursday. The strike hit a mining camp near the Sennar River, an area that has been a flashpoint in the civil war that erupted in April 2023. The group, which tracks violence in the region, said the aircraft, believed to be operated by the Sudanese army, dropped a cluster of munitions that exploded among the workers. The victims were mostly local laborers from the nearby towns of Gedarif and Al‑Sennar, many of whom were not involved in the fighting.

The incident comes amid a broader escalation between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF has taken control of key oil and gold fields along the border, while the army has been conducting air and ground operations to reclaim them. Mining camps have become unintended casualties of this contest for resources and territory. The region’s strategic importance is compounded by its proximity to Egypt, which has long supplied arms and training to the Sudanese army. The airstrike illustrates how the war is spilling over civilian zones, a pattern that has drawn criticism from the United Nations and the African Union.

Human rights groups are demanding an independent inquiry, citing evidence that the strike violated international humanitarian law by targeting a civilian site. The Sudanese government has denied the allegations, calling the report a “fabricated narrative” designed to undermine its security efforts. Meanwhile, the RSF has not issued a statement, and the UN Security Council is expected to convene a meeting next week to discuss possible sanctions or a peacekeeping mandate. The death toll could prompt Egypt to reassess its border security and potentially involve the Arab League in mediation efforts. The incident underscores the urgent need for a ceasefire and a comprehensive plan to protect civilians in conflict zones.