Cyanide Plants in South Kordofan State: Human Life is a Price for Gold Extraction

Introduction After South Sudan’s independence and the Sudanese government’s loss of oil revenues from the South, gold has become a major resource for the country’s budget. According to the Sudanese Geological Research Organization, in 2017 gold production reached 105 tons per year. This volume puts Sudan in third place for gold production in Africa, after South Africa and Ghana. However, gold production has not stabilized the economy due to government corruption, mismanagement, and control by warlords. This has led to the spread of traditional mining, which employs over two million citizens and produces about 80% of the gold extracted in Sudan.

Traditional Mining in Sudan and the Use of Cyanide Traditional mining involves excavating soil, milling it, and treating it with mercury to extract about 30% of the gold. The leftover soil, known as “karta,” is then treated with cyanide to extract the remaining gold. This process results in highly toxic industrial waste. Cyanide is a lethal substance; a dose of 0.2 mg can be fatal to humans by preventing oxygen transfer in the blood.

Gold Mining in South Kordofan South Kordofan is one of the states richest in gold. The government has granted several companies the right to set up cyanide factories without transparently announcing their owners. Identified companies include:

1. Dalanj factory (Al-Ashqar Company, owned by retired security head Khalid Al-Ashqar)
2. Kadogli plant (Al-Tawasul Company)
3. Al Akhdar Factory (E’timad Company)
4. Alrasaris factory (Lahah Mining Company)
5. Aldqaim factory (Lahah Mining Company)
6. Mreifain factory (E’timad Company)
7. Taqola factory (Al-Hadaf Mining Company)
8. Liri factory (owned by Governor Issa Adam Abkar)
9. Bloula factory
10. Kalouqi factory

Popular Resistance The local community has fiercely rejected these factories due to health and environmental hazards. Resistance committees have formed, leading to protests and even the burning of factory machinery and government offices in Kalouqi and Talodi. Popular pressure forced the temporary shutdown of five factories, though activists fear the government plans to reopen them under the guise of using "environmentally friendly" agents.

Environmental and Health Effects

1. Miscarriages: An increase in miscarriages and stillbirths has been reported in Dalanj and surrounding areas.
2. Congenital Deformities: 118 cases were recorded in Abu Jubayhah and 12 in Balula.
3. Deaths: Approximately 50 deaths have been linked to mercury and cyanide poisoning.
4. Livestock and Wildlife: At least 500 cattle and numerous wild animals and birds have died from drinking contaminated water.
5. Water Pollution: Cyanide has leaked into surface water (creeks like Abu Habl) and groundwater.
6. Social Fabric: Conflicts over land have broken out between tribes due to government bribes offered to traditional leaders for land access.

Challenges and Recommendations The resistance faces challenges from government media blackouts and financial inducements offered to traditional leaders. Recommendations include:

• Coordinating anti-cyanide movements across Sudan.
• Establishing a credible database on the impact of these factories.
• Mobilizing international environmental organizations to pressure the government.
• Training youth in strategic resistance efforts.