Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills at Least 13 in South Kordofan Amid Ongoing Conflict

At least 13 people were killed and six others injured following a partial collapse at the Umm Fakroun gold mine in South Kordofan state, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) confirmed on Wednesday.

The incident occurred last Friday at five abandoned mining shafts that had been officially closed by authorities. The SMRC stated that miners had entered the shafts illegally, engaging in unauthorised artisanal extraction. The collapse trapped and killed workers inside the unstable underground workings.

Regional Context: War and Resource Competition

South Kordofan remains one of Sudan’s key gold-producing regions, but it has also been severely affected by the civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The conflict has intensified competition for control of gold resources, which both sides increasingly rely on to finance their military efforts alongside foreign backing.

Gold Sector in Sudan Amid War

Sudan is Africa’s third-largest gold producer and one of the continent’s top suppliers globally. Official production reached 70 tonnes in 2025—its highest level in five years—despite widespread disruption from fighting.

However, Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim revealed that only 20 tonnes were exported through official channels last year, with the majority smuggled across borders into Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt before reaching international markets, particularly the United Arab Emirates.

Artisanal Mining and Humanitarian Risks

Artisanal and small-scale mining dominates the sector, employing an estimated two million people before the war. These operations often lack basic safety standards, use hazardous chemicals (such as mercury for amalgamation), and contribute to serious health risks (respiratory diseases, mercury poisoning) and environmental damage (water contamination, deforestation).

The conflict has displaced millions and pushed around 25 million people into severe food insecurity, severely limiting oversight and safety enforcement in mining areas.

Broader Conflict Impact

The war, now approaching its third year, has killed tens of thousands and displaced approximately 11 million people nationwide. Gold revenues have become a critical lifeline for both warring parties, fuelling accusations of resource exploitation and war profiteering.

The SMRC statement noted the shafts were closed due to safety risks, but illegal mining persists in remote and conflict-affected zones where state presence is weak.

Rescue operations were complicated by the remote location and ongoing insecurity.