The human rights organizations participating in the NGO Forum held alongside the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, convened in Dakar from 8 to 21 October, and the African Coalition for Accountability and Ending the War in Sudan, strongly condemn the airstrikes that targeted artisanal gold-mining sites near al-Uqaydat and al-Ansari Market in northeastern Sudan on 10 October 2026. According to testimonies from witnesses and survivors, the strikes killed hundreds of miners, destroyed the mines and caused them to collapse on the workers inside.
Survivors and eyewitnesses accused Egyptian aircraft of carrying out the bombing. The Coalition considers that these allegations, together with the reported scale of the losses, demand an urgent and independent international investigation to identify the aircraft, the parties that ordered and carried out the attack, and the circumstances that led to this number of casualties. Any delay or obstruction of the investigation must not lead to impunity.
Photographs and video footage show the extent of the destruction. Witnesses reported deaths and injuries and said that large numbers of miners had fled to the surrounding mountains, where they face shortages of drinking water, food and medical supplies. The impact of the attack extends to the families of those killed and missing, and to thousands of Sudanese who rely on artisanal mining as a source of livelihood.
The allegations concerning the bombing of al-Uqaydat come amid reports and testimonies that have raised serious questions about Egypt’s role in the war in Sudan. Since the early days of the conflict in April 2023, local reports and eyewitness accounts have described airstrikes attributed to Egyptian aircraft that allegedly targeted civilian objects and factories in Khartoum Bahri.
The Coalition calls on African fact-finding mechanisms and the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan to investigate these incidents, identify the aircraft and the parties responsible, and examine Egypt’s involvement in the war more broadly.
The New York Times previously reported, in an investigation based on satellite imagery, flight records, video footage and interviews with officials, that advanced military drones had taken off from East Oweinat Air Base in southern Egypt and carried out strikes inside Sudan. The investigation concluded that the drones’ activity indicated that Egypt had entered the war on the side of the Sudanese Armed Forces. This reinforces the need to investigate the use of Egyptian territory and facilities, the nature of any coordination, and responsibility for those strikes.
The Coalition affirms that, if it is established that attacks originated from Egyptian territory or were carried out using Egyptian bases and facilities, the Egyptian authorities would bear responsibility requiring investigation and accountability. An independent and transparent investigation is necessary to establish the nature of any military coordination or support and determine each party’s responsibility for attacks inside Sudan.
The bombing of miners and the collapse of mines on them, the continuing search for missing persons, the deaths and injuries, and the displacement of workers and loss of their livelihoods make the events in al-Uqaydat a humanitarian emergency requiring immediate action. Mining areas and Sudan’s border regions must not become open arenas for attacks while Sudanese lives are left unprotected and victims and their families are denied truth and redress.
The organizations call for the following measures:
1. Condemn the airstrikes attributed to Egyptian aircraft and immediately open a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the 10 October attack on mining sites near al-Uqaydat and al-Ansari Market, identifying the aircraft and the parties that planned, ordered or carried out the attack.
2. Mandate United Nations and African mechanisms to investigate Egypt’s role in military operations inside Sudan, including the use of East Oweinat Air Base, Egyptian airspace and facilities, and any coordination, support or participation involving the Sudanese Armed Forces. The Coalition also calls on the Egyptian authorities to provide information and cooperate fully.
3. Halt attacks launched from Egyptian territory or carried out using Egyptian facilities against Sudan, and refrain from providing any military or logistical support that prolongs the war or endangers civilians.
4. Launch urgent rescue operations to reach the collapsed mines, recover those trapped and search for missing persons; ensure access for rescue and ambulance teams; and transfer the injured to medical facilities.
5. Provide immediate assistance to survivors and displaced people, including drinking water, food, medicines and medical care, giving priority to children, women, injured people and older persons.
6. Preserve evidence of the attack and disclose relevant information, including flight records, satellite imagery, video footage and survivors’ testimonies; prepare verified lists of those killed and missing to prevent the concealment of evidence.
7. Ensure accountability and reparations for everyone found responsible, compensate victims and their families, and refer the evidence to the competent judicial authorities.
8. Take measures to prevent further attacks and involve African and international mechanisms in monitoring the incident, protecting civilians and upholding the right to life.
The Coalition urges the Egyptian authorities to end their interventions in the war in Sudan, disclose any participation in, support for or facilitation of military operations inside Sudan, and cooperate with independent investigations. It also calls on African and international states and organizations to protect civilians, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that these serious allegations are investigated and that those responsible do not enjoy impunity.
1. African Coalition for Accountability and Ending the War in Sudan
2. Independent African Observatory for the Protection of Civilians in Sudan
3. African Justice Network for Sudan
4. Horn of Africa Initiative for Peace and Rights
5. Nile Centre for Transitional Justice
6. African League for the Defence of Conflict Victims
7. African Civil Society Network in Solidarity with Sudan
8. African Forum for Human Rights and Combating Impunity
9. East Africa Initiative to Investigate Violations in Sudan
10. African Network for the Defence of War Victims