The Triangle, April 28 (Darfur24)
Artisanal gold mining has resumed in the border triangle between Sudan, Libya, and Egypt under the supervision of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following a halt after the group took control of the area last June, multiple sources told Darfur24.
Miners said activity has restarted around the main Triangle market, particularly near the Libyan-Chadian border close to the “Tank” gate, after the RSF allowed traders and investors to return. Operations are reportedly running under profit-sharing arrangements between investors and local miners, alongside the revival of stone mills and mercury processing.
Walid Abkar, a traditional miner, said gold trading and extraction have resumed gradually. At the same time, Ishaq Ibrahim noted that companies linked to the RSF are purchasing the ‘karta’, a residual material from gold-bearing rocks for reprocessing, after taking a share.
A trader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the market is operating on a limited scale, with shops including restaurants, food stores, goldsmiths, and processing facilities reopening. Supplies are arriving from the Libyan city of Al-Kufra, about 650 kilometers to the north.
He added that arrangements have been made with the RSF to maintain security in the area and curb armed robbery, kidnappings, and theft targeting miners and traders.
An RSF member identified as “M.A.” stated that the Triangle remains under the command of Abdullah Abkar Pasha, also known as “Abdullah Qurosh,” who is currently on an official mission in the United Arab Emirates. He said mining activity has largely returned to previous levels despite occasional drone strikes targeting some sites.
The RSF has controlled the strategic border triangle since June, following the withdrawal of Sudanese army forces and allied units after limited clashes.