At least 11 civilians travelling from gold-mining areas in Sudan’s South Kordofan state were attacked and robbed by armed men on Thursday, with one person injured and several others reportedly scattered across surrounding forests and valleys.
The incident occurred along the road connecting Tandik and Al-Fayd, near Al-Abbasiya, according to local Sudanese media, which cited sources familiar with the attack.
The travellers were initially riding in a tuk-tuk, but the driver reportedly refused to complete the journey to Al-Fayd, forcing them to continue on foot.
As they approached the town, armed men riding motorcycles allegedly opened fire, sending the civilians fleeing into nearby vegetation.
The attackers subsequently seized their belongings, according to the report.
One victim managed to return to Tandik despite sustaining injuries and was later transferred to Abu Jubeiha for medical treatment.
The whereabouts of the remaining travellers were unclear at the time of the report, with sources saying they had dispersed into forests and valleys while attempting to escape.
Second robbery reported near Al-Abbasiya
In a separate incident, travellers returning from the Tabasa market towards Al-Abbasiya were also reportedly intercepted by armed men.
The attackers confiscated mobile phones and other personal possessions before stealing the tuk-tuk transporting the passengers.
Neither incident has been attributed to a particular armed group, and the identity of the attackers remains unknown.
There was no immediate information about arrests or an investigation by local authorities.
Gold-producing communities face growing security risks
The attacks highlight persistent insecurity along transport routes serving South Kordofan’s gold-producing areas, where armed robbery has been documented even before Sudan’s current war.
In July 2022, Radio Dabanga reported that five people, including a police officer, were wounded in an armed robbery near Al-Abbasiya.
The same report cited allegations that Sudanese military personnel had robbed three gold miners in Talodi, illustrating longstanding concerns about armed groups and security-force abuses affecting mining communities.
The latest robberies come as Sudan’s gold sector continues to operate under mounting pressure from armed conflict, weak oversight and deteriorating economic conditions.
Gold mining remains an important source of income for millions of Sudanese, particularly as the conflict has disrupted agriculture, commerce and other traditional livelihoods.
However, miners face dangers extending beyond criminal attacks.
In January, a collapse involving abandoned mining shafts at Umm Fakroun in Abu Jubeiha locality killed at least 13 miners and injured six others, according to Sudan Tribune.
Officials said the incident raised renewed concerns about inadequate safety precautions at informal mining operations.
More recently, in September, a mine collapse near Al-Nuhud in neighbouring West Kordofan killed dozens of workers, again exposing the limited emergency response capacity available in remote mining communities.
Sudan’s gold industry has also become increasingly important to the country’s wartime economy, with informal trading networks and smuggling routes continuing to operate despite the conflict.
The latest incidents around Al-Abbasiya underscore the risks faced by civilians travelling between mining areas, markets and nearby towns, where limited security and the proliferation of weapons have made routine journeys increasingly dangerous.
