Rhino: Follow-up – The Emergency Lawyers Group condemned the Egyptian airstrikes that targeted civilian miners in the northern Wadi region within Sudanese territory on Saturday, October 10, 2026, resulting in the deaths of 72 civilian miners, according to preliminary information obtained by the group, while efforts to document and verify the full death toll are ongoing.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group condemned the repeated previous attacks on miners in the region—some of which it has documented—and affirmed that exploiting the collapse of Sudanese state institutions to commit these attacks constitutes a serious violation of national sovereignty. It noted that the recurrence of attacks in border areas rich in gold and minerals reflects the Egyptian authorities’ desire to expand and impose control over Sudan’s natural resources, at the expense of civilians’ lives, rights, and livelihoods.
The statement affirmed that the use of military force against the territory of another state without a legitimate justification constitutes a violation of the United Nations Charter, as well as of Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that the deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians contravenes international humanitarian law and violates the right to life. It stressed that these acts may constitute war crimes and may amount to the crime of aggression under international criminal law if they meet the legal elements thereof, thereby requiring an independent investigation and the accountability of those responsible.
The Emergency Lawyers Group called on the wounded, survivors, families of victims, and witnesses to contact the group through its official communication channels in order to document these attacks, preserve evidence and testimonies, and support accountability efforts, while ensuring the confidentiality of the information and the safety of those involved. It urged civil society organizations and human rights groups to stand in solidarity with the victims and their families, condemn these repeated attacks, support documentation and accountability efforts, and demand an end to the attacks and the protection of civilians.
