Dozens die of fighting, hunger, thirst in Sahara gold mines

Dozens of people, including Sudanese, were killed during fighting at the gold mines in the desert area of Kori Bokadi on the Chad-Libya border on Monday and Tuesday. Others died of hunger and thirst.

Gold prospector Ahmed Adam Abdallah informed Radio Dabanga from Kori Bokadi that conflicts between two tribes in the area some 12 days ago led to the suspension of the provision of water and food from Libya.

“The shortage of water and food led to the clashes on Monday, which continued on Tuesday. More than 63 people died in two days; in the clashes, or of hunger and thirst,” he said.

Abdallah added that “there are more than 73 people in a very bad condition because of the shortage of water and food”.

He appealed to the Sudanese, Chadian, and Libyan authorities to intervene, collect the bodies, and rescue the others by providing emergency water, food, and transport.

On 31 July, Radio Dabanga reported that the estimated 10,000 workers in the seven mines of Kori Bokadi were suffering from thirst after the water supply from the Libyan area of Gutran had been cut.