Accra:Egypt's military announced it is actively combating illegal gold mining activities in the Eastern Desert. This move comes in the wake of Sudan launching an investigation into the deaths of miners near the border with Egypt.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Egyptian military revealed that both armed forces and civilian police are engaged in the third phase of an extensive campaign targeting unauthorized gold mining. This operation follows an earlier distribution of warning leaflets aimed at asserting Egypt's sovereignty and protecting its national resources.

The campaign initially began on June 22, with the detention of individuals, including Sudanese nationals, involved in illegal mining. The second phase commenced on August 2, and the current phase started recently. The military emphasized the strong political and popular ties between Egypt and Sudan, citing the peaceful coexistence of millions of Sudanese in Egypt as evidence of these relations. It also urged citizens of both nations to rely on official information sources to avoid misleading rumors.

The military statement did not specifically address claims that Egyptian aircraft might have conducted an airstrike on miners in Sudanese territory. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem discussed their nations' mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In Sudan, Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has ordered a fact-finding committee to investigate the alleged killing of miners on Saturday near the Egyptian border. Reports from the independent Emergency Lawyers group have indicated that the death toll from an airstrike in the North al-Wadi area of Sudan has reached 72 miners, with suspicion falling on Egyptian aircraft.

Sudan's artisanal mining sector, which employs over 2 million people and contributes approximately 80% of the country's gold production, remains a critical economic component, especially after the loss of oil revenues due to South Sudan's secession. The country is currently embroiled in a conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has resulted in significant casualties and displacement.