Cairo, June 23 (Darfur24)
The Egyptian army on Monday confirmed carrying out a large-scale security operation along its southern border with Sudan, announcing the arrest of 223 people, including 136 foreign nationals, amid growing scrutiny following last week’s deadly attack on Sudanese artisanal miners in the border region.
In a statement, the Egyptian military spokesperson said army units, supported by Interior Ministry forces, conducted raids in the Southern Military Zone targeting what it described as illegal activities, including drug and weapons trafficking, illegal gold mining, and irregular migration.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 87 Egyptians and 136 foreign nationals, according to the statement. Authorities also seized 14 vehicles, communication devices, cash in local and foreign currencies, unlicensed weapons and ammunition, as well as equipment used in informal gold mining operations.
The announcement comes days after Sudanese miners reported being targeted in the Jabal al-Uqaydat area along the Sudanese-Egyptian border. Local sources and survivors told Darfur24 that at least 30 miners were killed and more than 50 injured in aerial strikes, while dozens fled into surrounding mountains and desert areas.
The incident sparked widespread calls inside Sudan for an independent investigation. Sudanese political parties, including the Sudanese Congress Party and the National Umma Party, demanded a transparent international inquiry into the attack and the circumstances surrounding it.
Local officials in the mining region suggested the recent violence may be linked to tensions that erupted in March after Sudanese miners reportedly expelled an Egyptian mining company operating in a disputed border area and burned some of its equipment. The incident was followed by clashes with Egyptian border guards that left at least nine miners dead and several others injured.
Artisanal mining areas along the Sudanese-Egyptian border have witnessed recurring security tensions in recent years, fueled by disputes over mining activities, border controls, and the movement of miners in remote and contested areas. Neither the Sudanese nor Egyptian governments have publicly commented on allegations linking Egyptian forces to last week’s airstrikes.