Gold Mining Surges in Northern Sudan Amid War Economy

Unregulated gold mining has surged in the Dalgo Mahas region of northern Sudan as families seek survival during the ongoing war.

This shift in labor underscores the desperation of the Sudanese populace and the state's pivot toward mineral wealth to fund military operations. As traditional economic pillars crumble, the informal mining sector has transformed from a fringe activity into a primary lifeline for thousands.

Miners in the mountainous Dalgo Mahas area operate without basic safety measures. Many use hand tools and metal detectors to extract gold from riverbeds and makeshift pits, exposing themselves to the constant threat of mine collapse ^[1]. The process also involves the use of mercury to separate gold from ore, leading to severe health risks for the workers and the surrounding environment ^[2].

The transition to gold is driven by a collapse in other revenue streams. Sudan lost more than two-thirds of its oil revenues after the war began ^[3]. This loss created a vacuum in the national treasury and stripped families of their primary means of income, forcing them into the hazardous gold fields to support their households ^[3].

While the miners face extreme physical danger, the gold they extract continues to flow into the state treasury. The unregulated nature of the trade allows the government to secure a new stream of war funding, effectively replacing the lost oil wealth with mineral exports ^[2]. The cycle persists as the economic hardship of the population provides a steady supply of labor willing to risk death for minimal pay ^[1].

Despite the risks of toxicity and structural failure in the mines, there are few alternatives for those in the northern regions. The gold rush in Dalgo Mahas is not a pursuit of wealth, but a strategy for survival in a war-torn economy ^[1].