On Sunday, a collapse at the Al‑Zaraa gold mine in Al‑Nuhud town, West Kordofan, killed 82 workers and left dozens missing.
Al‑Amin Suleiman, a miner trapped in the wreckage, warned that the closely spaced shafts meant a single collapse could bring down several, and that many are presumed dead.
Local survivors like Khair al‑Sayyed Jabara described all‑night rescue efforts using rudimentary tools, saying heavy machinery is needed to clear the rubble.
The mine sits in a region controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, who have turned gold extraction into a war‑financing engine amid the April 2023 conflict.
Sudan’s artisanal mining employs over two million people and feeds a smuggling network that routes gold to the UAE, a fact that deepens the humanitarian crisis.
Rescue teams are still scouring the rubble, while the RSF’s limited governance leaves civilians reliant on aid. A new round of negotiations is expected next week.