Two recent incidents involving fatalities have underscored the dangers of gold mining in Sudan, particularly in artisanal operations that have proliferated amid the country's ongoing internal war. On September 19, a gold mine pit in the northeast of Sudan collapsed, killing at least 11 miners and injuring 30 others. Earlier, on September 15, a collapse at the Al-Ragig mining site in Western Kordofan State resulted in between 40 and 51 deaths, according to Sudan Horizon. Sudan Tribune reported a higher toll of 67 fatalities, citing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which controls the area. The publication also noted that dozens of miners remained trapped after unstable ground, weakened by recent rains, caused the collapse. Exact numbers remain unclear, with the Washington Post reporting at least 82 deaths. These incidents highlight the growing frequency of such tragedies in regions where informal gold mining is a primary source of livelihood amid economic hardship and war. In Western Kordofan, a region in southern Sudan controlled by the RSF, gold has become a vital revenue source for the paramilitary group. Since the conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) began in April 2023, gold has played a central role in funding the war. The largest city in Western Kordofan, Al-Nuhud, has seen a surge in prospectors drawn by the region’s gold deposits, which are under RSF control. Artisanal mining, which involves small-scale, often informal operations, now accounts for the majority of Sudan’s gold production. The country, historically a major gold producer in Africa, recorded a record 70 tons of gold in 2025, with artisanal miners contributing over 80% of national output. These miners, numbering more than 2 million, rely on informal extraction from abandoned or unofficial sites. Gold has also become a key driver of the ongoing conflict between the RSF and SAF. A 2026 UN report noted that both sides derive significant revenue from gold, along with trade in arabic gum and livestock. Gold is described as the essential engine of Sudan’s war economy, providing a major income source for armed groups. Sudanese economist Abdelazim Al-Amawy estimates that gold is a key factor in prolonging the conflict. In 2025, a large portion of the 70 tons of gold produced was exported clandestinely, with only 52% of the previous year’s exports passing through official channels. The economic impact is significant: in 2024, about 65 tons of gold were produced in SAF-controlled areas, with 28 tons exported through Port Sudan, generating around $1.6 billion in revenue—nearly half of the country’s annual exports. However, the RSF’s gold operations remain largely undocumented, as the paramilitary group continues to extract and trade gold in Darfur and Kordofan. The RSF is also reported to have seized over 1.3 tons of unrefined gold at the start of the conflict. Sudanese media has linked much of this trade to the United Arab Emirates, with nearly all Sudanese gold reportedly sold through Emirati networks. A company named Alliance Mining and Kush for Exploration and Production, located in a region controlled by the SAF, is believed to be the largest gold operation in the country. It is owned by Emiral Resources Ltd, a firm based in the UAE, which is accused of financing and arming the RSF. In addition to the human toll, gold mining has caused severe environmental damage, with pollutants like cyanide and mercury contaminating water, soil, and air, rendering land unsuitable for agriculture and drastically reducing food production. The central role of gold in Sudan’s conflict has prompted international action. In July, the European Union banned the purchase, import, and transfer of Sudanese gold to curb funding for both belligerents. Switzerland joined this effort in early September, according to mining industry news. These measures aim to disrupt the flow of illicit gold revenues that sustain the war and its devastating consequences.