El Fasher, November 17 (Darfur24)
Eleven civilians were killed and 18 others injured on Sunday afternoon when a drone targeted the market at the Tagru gold mine, located on the border between North Darfur and the Northern State.
An eyewitness told Darfur24 that a strategic drone flew over Al-Manjam market, frequented by thousands of traditional miners from across Sudan, before launching several missiles that killed 11 civilians instantly and left 18 others injured, some in critical condition.
A medical source in North Darfur said the wounded were initially transferred to the health center in Ain Basaru, which lacks a general practitioner, relying only on a medical assistant. Critical patients are being prepared for transfer to facilities offering better medical care, scheduled for Monday morning. Ain Basaru is located about 190 kilometers from Al-Malha.
Another eyewitness reported that the mine had no military presence prior to the attack. After the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of Al-Malha locality, they entered the area, expelled local employees, and began imposing administrative fees inside the mine.
The witness suggested that the movement of combat vehicles to and from the mine may have prompted the strike and called on the RSF to leave the area and delegate administrative duties to civilians.
The Tagru mine, officially recognized in 2015, is one of North Darfur’s largest traditional mining sites after Jebel Amer and remains an important source of revenue for the state treasury.
Since April 2023, Sudan has experienced fierce fighting between the Sudanese army and allied forces on one side, and the RSF on the other, with drones frequently used to strike both civilian and military areas under each side’s control.