Egypt’s southern border with Sudan is emerging as a new frontline in the battle against illegal gold mining, as the conflict in Sudan fuels the expansion of informal mining networks and cross-border smuggling activities in the mineral-rich Red Sea region.
Known locally as “Dahaba,” informal gold prospectors have operated for years across the mountainous terrain stretching between Egypt and Sudan. But the ongoing war in Sudan has altered the dynamics of the trade, turning what was once largely small-scale prospecting into a growing security and economic challenge for both countries.
“The Red Sea region is rich in gold-bearing mountains on both the Egyptian and Sudanese sides of the border,” Badawi Al-Tayeb, an economic analyst and political affairs editor at Sudan’s state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA), told DNE Africa.
“In recent years, random and unregulated mining activities have expanded significantly. Some of the groups involved are no longer limited to gold prospecting but have become linked to transnational criminal networks that exploit the current conflict in Sudan,” he said.
According to Al-Tayeb, Sudan has suffered substantial losses from illegal gold extraction over the years, depriving the country of valuable revenues and undermining its economy.
“The war has created conditions that allow criminal groups to operate more freely. These networks are involved not only in illegal mining but also in smuggling activities that can include human trafficking and narcotics trafficking,” he said.
Al-Tayeb argued that some groups have sought to exploit the issue politically by spreading misinformation designed to strain relations between Egypt and Sudan.
“There are hidden hands attempting to undermine Egyptian-Sudanese relations,” he said. “Questions remain about how some of these groups are able to produce sophisticated media content and maintain communications from remote areas where telecommunications infrastructure is limited.”
For Egypt, the issue extends beyond the loss of mineral resources. The government has identified mining as a strategic sector capable of attracting investment and generating export revenues, while unauthorized mining threatens to divert valuable resources outside formal economic channels.
Al-Tayeb said illegal prospectors have repeatedly crossed into Egyptian territory as part of smuggling operations linked to gold extraction.
In the same connection, he noted that Sudanese army chief and Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, recently called on Sudanese gold prospectors not to cross international borders while searching for gold, following reports of incidents involving miners operating in frontier areas.
“Burhan has been clear that smuggling networks and illegal gold mining operations pose a threat to Sudan’s economic resources and national security,” Al-Tayeb said. He added that Burhan’s strong remarks underscored Sudan’s efforts to discourage unauthorized cross-border activities and support cooperation with Egypt on border security.
According to Al-Tayeb, Burhan has also stressed the importance of preventing smuggling groups from exploiting border regions and crossing into neighboring countries, including Egypt, amid growing concerns over the security implications of illegal mining operations.
He praised what he described as Egypt’s firm approach to securing its border regions and combating criminal networks operating in remote desert areas. “The Egyptian Armed Forces have dealt decisively with groups that pose risks to Egypt’s security and to the region’s mineral wealth,” Al-Tayeb said.
He further affirmed that Egyptian-Sudanese security cooperation remains essential to tracking criminal networks and protecting the shared border.
“The security of Sudan and Egypt is interconnected,” Al-Tayeb said. “Cooperation between the two countries is crucial in confronting cross-border smuggling gangs, pursuing criminals and safeguarding the security of the border region.”
The issue has gained greater significance as global gold prices remain elevated, increasing incentives for illegal mining activities across the region.
Egypt Steps Up Efforts To Regulate Mining Activity
In recent months, Egypt has stepped up efforts to regulate mining activity, expand geological exploration and protect mineral resources through licensed operations. Authorities have also launched new initiatives aimed at mapping the country’s mineral wealth and attracting international investment into the sector.
The government has sought to transform mining into a pillar of economic growth through expanded exploration programs and new investment opportunities, while cracking down on unauthorized extraction and smuggling.
Al-Tayeb warned that allowing illegal mining networks to operate unchecked could have consequences extending beyond economic losses.
“The challenge is not only about protecting gold resources,” he said. “It is also about preventing criminal organizations from exploiting instability and using border regions as corridors for activities that threaten the security of both Egypt and Sudan.”
