Gold mining in Sudan is no longer confined to those working in the mining sector or people seeking to make quick fortunes. For some Sudanese, it has become a means of coping with an economic reality imposed by the war that erupted in April 2023. With jobs lost, commercial and agricultural activities disrupted, and large numbers of people displaced from their homes, some have turned to traditional mining areas in northern Sudan and River Nile State. Despite the dangers, these mines appear to offer an opportunity to earn a daily income or generate returns that could change their families’ circumstances.
In areas such as Abu Hamad and Al-Obeidiyah, mining activities have become intertwined with the movement of people seeking employment, forming part of a local economy that accommodates different types of labour. These range from prospecting and breaking rocks to transporting raw materials, processing them, and buying and selling gold. However, this activity does not guarantee a steady income for all workers. Earnings depend on the quantity of gold extracted, the costs of fuel and equipment, and the profit-sharing arrangements with mine owners or those financing the operations.
Making a Living
For someone who has lost their home, a farmer whose land has become inaccessible, or a young person who can no longer find a job, going to the mines may not be a decision driven by the desire to become wealthy, but rather a response to limited options.
In mining areas, some newcomers can look for paid work, participate in gold extraction in exchange for a share of the proceeds, or work breaking rocks and transporting raw materials. However, these opportunities do not mean that every worker is guaranteed an income. Some may spend days working without finding enough gold to cover their expenses. Between the need to support their families and the absence of stable alternatives, taking risks becomes part of their daily struggle to survive.
Economic analyst Al-Sir Suleiman said that “the war in Sudan has brought about widespread changes in household sources of income, after many citizens lost their jobs or saw their commercial and agricultural activities disrupted. Others were forced to leave their areas in search of safety and new sources of livelihood. Amid limited employment opportunities in some displacement areas, artisanal mining has become one of the options available to people seeking income to support their families, despite the dangers associated with this activity.”
He continued: “The appeal of artisanal mining lies in the fact that, in many cases, it does not require going through conventional recruitment procedures or possessing specific academic qualifications. Some people can join mining operations for a daily wage, while others work breaking rocks, transporting, sorting and processing raw materials. Others may participate directly in extraction in exchange for a share of the resulting gold. This diversity of employment arrangements enables the sector to absorb workers with different skills and economic capacities. However, it does not mean that all workers enjoy equal opportunities or guaranteed returns.”
Suleiman added that “for displaced people who have lost their sources of income, mining appears to be an available option compared with waiting for a formal job, which may take a long time to secure. The need to provide food and shelter and meet family members’ basic needs pushes some to accept physically demanding work in environments that sometimes lack occupational safety standards and essential healthcare services. Under such circumstances, the decision to work in the mines is not necessarily a choice between a safe job and a dangerous one. Rather, it may be a choice between taking risks through work and continuing to have no income at all.”
He further explained that “it is important to distinguish between the potential returns from gold extraction and the actual income received by workers. Production is affected by the quantity of available raw material, the likelihood of finding gold, and the costs of equipment, fuel, transportation and processing. A person may work for days without generating returns sufficient to cover expenses, while workers’ circumstances vary according to the nature of their agreements with mine owners or those financing mining operations.”
Suleiman concluded: “The economic risks differ depending on the worker’s position in the production chain. A worker receiving a daily wage may enjoy a relatively more regular, albeit limited, income. By contrast, those working under profit-sharing arrangements bear part of the uncertainty associated with the quantity and value of the gold extracted. Those financing extraction operations may face higher costs and greater financial risks, although they may also receive a different share of the proceeds. Therefore, assessing the economic viability of artisanal mining requires understanding the nature of the work, the terms of the agreement and the cost of living, rather than relying solely on the value of the gold extracted or the prices circulating in the markets.”
The Cost of Survival
The risks do not end upon reaching mining areas. Inside extraction and processing sites, workers face dangers ranging from mine and shaft collapses to injuries caused by machinery and exposure to chemicals used in gold separation.
Some workers operate in remote locations far from hospitals, under poor living conditions and without basic services or safety equipment. The situation becomes even more complicated when workers are forced to choose between stopping work to protect their safety and continuing in order to provide for their families.
In this equation, workers are not the only ones who bear the consequences of these dangers. Their families and communities can also suffer, through the loss of a breadwinner or illnesses associated with environmental pollution.
Health and toxicology specialist Muhannad Abdelmajid said that “artisanal mining in Sudan is associated with occupational and health hazards that vary depending on working conditions, the nature of extraction sites and the materials used in gold processing. Amid the economic pressures created by the war, some workers find themselves compelled to continue working in hazardous environments that lack protective equipment and adequate medical services.”
He explained that “the most prominent risks include the collapse of mine shafts and pits, injuries caused by machinery, and suffocation in poorly ventilated spaces. These accidents become particularly dangerous at sites where safety procedures and excavation support measures are lacking, especially when such locations are far from hospitals and ambulance services.”
Abdelmajid added that “the risks are not limited to direct accidents. Workers at some gold-processing sites are exposed to mercury, which is used to separate the metal from other materials. Inhaling mercury vapour during the burning process can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Pollution may also spread to the soil and water, threatening the health of people living near mining sites.”
He noted that “these risks are exacerbated when workers lack protective equipment and training in handling chemicals, or operate at sites that are not subject to regular supervision. The absence of health insurance can also turn an injury into an economic crisis for the family, particularly if the worker loses the ability to earn a living.”
He stressed that addressing these risks requires strengthening occupational safety measures, monitoring the use of chemicals, ensuring the proper disposal of processing waste, and providing ambulance services and healthcare.
He also emphasised that accurately assessing the scale of the damage requires field data on accidents and injuries, in addition to medical examinations and environmental measurements in areas surrounding the mines.
