Meeting of Sudanese tribal leaders broken-up in Khartoum

Agents of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) broke-up a meeting of representatives of the Mahas tribal associations Mahas Club in the capital Khartoum on Tuesday.

The representatives were meeting to discuss random gold mining in the area, as well as security incidents, such as the stabbing of an elderly woman in her home in Tenry village. The agenda also covered their concerns about the use of chemicals and the impact of mining on the environment.

One of the organisers, Adham Nasur, told Radio Dabanga that a NISS force besieged the club building with more than five vehicles and ordered the representatives to promptly vacate the premises.

Cyanide

Hundreds of people in Sawadera in Sudan’s Northern State demonstrated on Saturday against the use of cyanide in gold mining near a water station in the area.

Cyanide and mercury are used to separate gold and silver particles from ore. The chemicals may cause various serious, possibly fatal health problems.