Sudanese political forces have warned Egypt against launching further military operations targeting Sudanese gold miners, accusing Cairo of threatening Sudan’s sovereignty and endangering civilians under the pretext of combating illegal mining and cross-border smuggling.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Sudanese Declaration of Principles coalition condemned Egypt’s announcement of a fourth phase of military operations scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 7, amid growing concerns over previous deadly strikes on mining communities.
The coalition said the planned campaign, announced by the Egyptian military in coordination with Sudan’s army-aligned authorities, raised fears of further attacks against civilians already struggling to survive the country’s devastating conflict.
The warning follows allegations that Egyptian aircraft carried out strikes on the al-Uqaydat gold-mining area in Sudan’s Red Sea state on October 10, reportedly killing more than 200 miners.
The coalition also cited earlier airstrikes on June 16 in the Jabal al-Uqaydat area, which it said had been attributed to Egyptian warplanes.
The reported death tolls and the locations of the alleged strikes have not been independently verified.
The political bloc criticised the absence of investigations into either incident, demanding an independent international inquiry to establish responsibility and determine whether Egyptian forces had conducted military operations inside Sudanese territory.
Egypt maintains that its operations are conducted within its borders and target criminal networks involved in illegal gold mining, weapons trafficking and cross-border smuggling.
Egyptian military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Etman said the first three phases of the campaign resulted in the detention of 691 people, including 540 foreign nationals, and the removal of 4,488 tents and makeshift shelters.
However, the Sudanese coalition rejected the portrayal of traditional miners as criminals, arguing that many were impoverished civilians seeking to support their families amid war and economic collapse.
It warned that Egypt’s security campaign could become a justification for expanding military operations into Sudanese territory, particularly in disputed border regions.
The coalition also raised allegations of organised gold smuggling involving Sudanese and Egyptian networks, calling for transparent investigations into the exploitation of Sudan’s mineral resources and those benefiting from the trade.
It accused Sudan’s military authorities of failing to protect the country’s borders and remaining silent over previous allegations of Egyptian attacks.
The group argued that security coordination between Cairo and Sudan’s army-aligned authorities could not legitimise foreign military operations on Sudanese soil.
It also highlighted the longstanding territorial dispute over Halayeb and Shalateen, which remain under Egyptian administration but are claimed by Sudan.
The coalition warned that further civilian casualties attributed to Egyptian forces would trigger political and diplomatic escalation through the African Union, Arab League, United Nations and international human rights mechanisms.
It held both the Egyptian government and Sudan’s military leadership responsible for protecting civilians and preventing further violence.
The statement comes amid increasing tensions over gold mining along the Sudanese-Egyptian border, where competing territorial claims, smuggling networks and military operations have heightened concerns about civilian safety.
The coalition reiterated its demand for accountability over the alleged June and October airstrikes, insisting that security agreements between Cairo and Sudan’s military authorities must not prevent investigations into possible violations of Sudanese sovereignty.
