Sudan Orders Probe Into Airstrike That Killed 72

Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has ordered an investigation into an airstrike at a gold mining site near the Egyptian border that reportedly killed 72 people, as tensions grow over the deadly incident.

Investigation Launched

Burhan ordered a fact-finding committee on Monday to investigate Saturday’s strike in the mountainous Jabal al-Uqaydat mining area. The Transitional Sovereignty Council said the committee would include prosecutors, judicial officials and security representatives, who are expected to submit a report on their findings.

Egypt Accused Over Deadly Strike

The rights group Emergency Lawyers, which documents abuses in Sudan’s war, reported that 72 people were killed in the attack and accused Egypt of carrying it out. A witness said a plane conducted several strikes on Saturday morning, triggering panic at the mining site. AFP said it could not independently verify the claims, while Egypt had issued no official comment.

Sudan and Egypt in Contact

Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council said authorities in both countries had remained in contact to establish what happened. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also spoke with his Sudanese counterpart on Monday, stressing the importance of mutual respect and respect for each country’s territorial integrity and borders.

Border Tensions and Gold Mining

The strike occurred in a rugged, mineral-rich border region stretching hundreds of kilometres and including the disputed Halayeb Triangle, which both Sudan and Egypt claim. The area has long been associated with gold smuggling, illicit trade and human trafficking.

Sudan’s War Fuels Mining Risks

Sudan’s ongoing war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has caused mass casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis, pushing more people towards dangerous gold mining for survival. Gold production also helps finance the warring sides.

Officials Condemn Attack

Amjad Farid, Burhan’s foreign relations adviser, condemned the attack as an unacceptable crime. He argued that border violations could be addressed through other means and said airstrikes against civilians were unjustifiable, particularly when communication channels remained open.

The incident follows another reported strike on the same mining area in June, when 23 workers were reportedly killed. Egypt’s military did not claim responsibility at the time but said it had carried out a large-scale operation against illegal gold mining within Egyptian territory.