Two Egyptian army officers, including a senior border guard figure, died during a military sweep targeting unauthorized gold mining along the southern boundary with Sudan. Colonel Gharib Abdel-Hafez, spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces, announced the casualties on Thursday.
Colonel Abdel-Hafez did not specify the exact timing of the deaths. The military campaign to suppress illegal mining began in the Eastern Desert region in June.
State security forces have completed the first three phases of the security operation, with the fourth phase scheduled to begin on Saturday.
The stated objective of the campaign is to enhance state control over Egyptian territory and safeguard national resources, Colonel Abdel-Hafez said during the military update.
Authorities have detained 151 Egyptian citizens and 540 foreign nationals since the crackdown started.
Artisanal gold mining has surged in northern Sudan due to disruptions from the ongoing civil war. The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company says gold serves as a key source of revenue during the conflict.
Experts and industry participants report that much of this gold is smuggled across the border into Egypt. Smuggling routes use the porous and contested border zone, which includes the mineral-rich Halayeb and Shalateen regions.
Egyptian authorities maintain ongoing coordination with Sudanese officials regarding border security. Colonel Abdel-Hafez confirmed that recent meetings have taken place between representatives of both nations.
The Egyptian Armed Forces stated that the military branches of both countries have been exchanging intelligence. This information sharing aims to secure the frontier between Egypt and Sudan.
