Egypt Enhances Deterrence Against Illegal Gold Miners and Secures Southern Borders

Military Spokesperson emphasizes "uprooting security threats from their source."

A portion of the items seized during an Egyptian military campaign on June 22 (Military Spokesperson on Facebook).

Cairo: Mohamed Mahmoud

Published: 17:37 - July 17, 2026 - 02 Safar 1448 AH

Cairo: Mohamed Mahmoud

Published: 17:37 - July 17, 2026 - 02 Safar 1448 AH

Egypt Enhances Deterrence Against Illegal Gold Miners and Secures Southern Borders

A portion of the items seized during an Egyptian military campaign on June 22 (Military Spokesperson on Facebook).

The Egyptian military has continued publishing a video series featuring testimonies regarding the security of the southern borders adjacent to Sudan and the confrontation of outlaws, especially those involved in illegal gold mining, stressing its commitment to "uprooting security threats from their source."

LIVE

An error occurred. Please try again later.

These Egyptian assurances, according to a military and strategic expert who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, reflect a determination "to resolve this file and end any crises in the country's south, affirming national sovereignty and preserving its resources and wealth." He expects further "deterrent measures against smuggling elements that have not yet surrendered."

"Shield of the South"

On Thursday evening, the Egyptian military spokesperson, Colonel Ahmed Othman, highlighted through his official Facebook page in the third episode of the video release titled "Shield of the South" the suffering of the people of Marsa Alam, Halayeb, and Shalateen (southern Egypt) due to the "Dahhaba" (illegal gold prospectors) phenomenon and its increasing impact on daily life, natural resources, and security within the southern regions.

According to testimonies presented in the video by representatives of the residents, including Member of Parliament for Halayeb, Shalateen, and the Red Sea, Ali Nour; Nasser Ahmed, a member of the Ababda tribe; and Ali Abal, Sheikh of the Labab tribe in Shalateen, "the Dahhaba are working to plunder resources in the southern region, causing severe damage" to residents living in cities, valleys, and mountainous areas.

The testimonies affirmed that these individuals "were not only stealing gold and the rights of the state, but also caused an increase in the prices of goods and services and the proliferation of weapons." They expressed "the joy and support of the residents for this security and military campaign against the Dahhaba," stressing that "the people of the region do not reject work or benefiting from the resources of their land, but they reject the presence of intrusive, foreign, or outlaw elements that seize resources and threaten the security of citizens."

According to the release, the major campaign by the Armed Forces and the Civil Police was "a necessary step to save the southern region from a phenomenon that was growing day by day, until it began to affect the security of the residents, their livelihoods, and their right to the resources of their land." It concluded with the assurance that "any threat to citizens or the plundering of state wealth will be uprooted from its source, whether in the south or in any inch of the country."

Military and strategic expert Samir Ragheb believes that the continued posting of military messages regarding the "Dahhaba" "carries a reassuring message to citizens, another to confirm that the southern borders are secure, and a third to those behind these gangs that Egypt's army and police will stand in their way," expecting further campaigns to clear the region of outlaws.

A security campaign in Egypt to curb the threat of illegal gold mining elements (Military Spokesperson on Facebook).

The spokesperson for the Egyptian military, Colonel Ahmed Othman, began publishing the first episode of the "Shield of the South" series last Tuesday, highlighting how the Armed Forces and Civil Police dealt with elements involved in illegal gold mining who surrendered in the southern region, noting that this comes "within a legal framework according to international standards and conventions in a way that imposes security and preserves rights."

The first episode included filmed testimonies from Sudanese nationals who confirmed they received humane treatment after surrendering, sending appeals to others remaining within illegal mining zones to hasten their surrender, distinct from a second episode that revealed testimonies from Egyptians and Sudanese accused of illegal gold mining.

Ragheb noted that the videos posted on the military spokesperson's page "enjoy high viewership and aim to deliver a message of awareness and deterrence simultaneously."

Campaign

Last June, the Egyptian military announced the execution of a campaign, in conjunction with police forces, on the country's southern borders against "criminal hotspots" it accused of practicing illegal activities, including drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal gold mining, and illegal immigration. The campaign resulted in the apprehension of over 200 people, including 136 foreigners.

At that time, activists shared videos on social media showing individuals infiltrating Egypt's southern borders with Sudan, amidst information about illegal gold mining in Egypt and appeals for the Egyptian authorities to take necessary measures.

The Egyptian military emphasizes "uprooting security threats from their source" (Military Spokesperson on Facebook).

The Egyptian military said in a statement at the time that "within the framework of the missions carried out by the Armed Forces to protect national security and preserve the economic capabilities and gains of the nation, the Armed Forces, in cooperation with elements of the Ministry of Interior, carried out a major campaign in the southern military region sector against a number of criminal hotspots utilized by criminal organizations and networks to engage in illicit activities, including (drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal gold mining, and illegal immigration)."

Regarding field obstacles, military and strategic expert Samir Ragheb pointed out that "the challenge is significant, given the length of the border and the difficulty of the terrain in desert areas where even vehicles cannot travel," confirming that the southern borders "are the longest of Egypt's borders, even longer than the border with Libya (to the west)," and that "the campaign and its results reflect Egypt's ability to protect and secure its borders."

Topics

Most Read

Today

Week

Related Articles

"Grievances" regarding exclusion from "ration cards" do not calm the anxiety of Egyptian families.

The Egyptian government finally began procedures to purge ration cards of ineligible citizens (Reuters).

"Grievances" regarding exclusion from "ration cards" do not calm the anxiety of Egyptian families.

The Egyptian government finally began procedures to purge ration cards of ineligible citizens (Reuters).

Government "grievance" procedures due to exclusion from "ration cards" (designated for goods) have not calmed the anxiety of Egyptian families; despite thousands of citizens being removed, very few have proceeded to file "grievances."

Forty-year-old Mohamed Farag, who works for a government agency east of Cairo and resides in the Qalyubia Governorate adjacent to the Egyptian capital, says: "I do not see any benefit from filing a grievance; the ration card will not return," adding that "the government's talk about grievances has not calmed my family's anxiety about the return of the ration supply again."

Although Farag supports a family of two children and a wife, and owns a 2002 model car, he was excluded without any clear reason, saying: "The message I received was that the card was deactivated, and if I wanted it back, I had to file a grievance."