The Sudanese Congress Party has condemned an alleged Egyptian air and ground attack on artisanal gold-mining areas in northern Sudan, calling for an urgent independent investigation into the deaths and displacement of civilians.
In a statement, the party described Tuesday’s attack on the Jabal al-Iqaad mining area as a “horrific massacre” that demonstrated the Port Sudan authorities’ failure to protect Sudanese territory and its citizens.
The party said air strikes carried out on June 16 killed or wounded dozens of miners. It alleged that the bombardment was followed by a large ground operation involving around 60 military vehicles, supported by aircraft, which extended towards the Al-Ansari market area.
Hundreds of civilians reportedly fled into the surrounding desert, while the fate of several miners remains unknown. The party warned that some of those displaced were stranded in extreme heat without sufficient water, while bodies were reportedly still trapped beneath collapsed mining shafts.
The Sudan Founding Alliance, or TASIS, separately condemned what it described as two consecutive days of Egyptian attacks on artisanal mining sites in North Wadi and Al-Ansari. The alliance said thousands of Sudanese miners worked in the targeted area and claimed that hundreds had been killed or wounded.
The differing place names used in the statements appear to refer to the same mining zone and sequence of attacks along Sudan’s northern border.
TASIS accused Egypt of violating Sudanese sovereignty and alleged that the operation had been conducted in coordination with the Sudanese Armed Forces. Cairo has not issued a public statement confirming or denying responsibility for the reported strikes.
The Sudanese Congress Party likewise accused the Port Sudan authorities and the army of remaining silent over the alleged violation of Sudanese airspace and territory. It said the incident reflected the deepening collapse of state institutions caused by the continuing war.
The party demanded an urgent, transparent and independent investigation to establish who ordered and carried out the air strikes and accompanying ground operation. It called for those responsible to be held accountable under international law.
It also warned that the continued rejection of a negotiated settlement would further fragment Sudan, weaken its sovereignty and expose the country to increasing foreign intervention.
The party appealed to humanitarian organisations and communities around the Al-Ansari and Al-Alaqi markets to help locate and rescue people missing in the desert. It offered condolences to the victims’ families and wished the wounded a swift recovery.
