Khartoum: At least 11 miners were killed after a gold mine collapsed in Sudan, a state-owned mining company announced on Sunday. The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) reported that the collapse occurred in an "artisanal shaft in the Kirsh al-Fil mine" in the government-controlled area of Houeid over the weekend.

According to Deutsche Welle, the SMRC had previously warned against working in this shaft due to the "risk to life." The collapse highlights the dangers faced by miners in Sudan's gold industry, which has been a significant factor in funding the ongoing civil war in the country.

Sudan is currently engulfed in a civil war between the military and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since the conflict erupted in 2023, gold mining has played a critical role in financing the war efforts of both sides.

Mining industry sources and experts indicate that a considerable portion of the gold extracted in Sudan is smuggled to neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, or Egypt before making its way to the United Arab Emirates, which is the world's second-largest gold exporter. The UAE has faced widespread accusations of supplying arms to the RSF.

The conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced 13 million people, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.