Thousands of traditional artisanal gold miners in southern Egypt face a shifting landscape as presidential directives set the stage for formal state regulation. “تنظيم أنشطة التنقيب عن الذهب يعالج جذور الأزمة,” said Major General Ayman Salima, a strategic and military expert, during a telephone interview on إكسترا نيوز.
The initiatives follow an expanded meeting held under the sponsorship of Ibrahim al-Arjani, head of the Union of Egyptian Tribes and Families, with participation from members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, tribe and family representatives from Aswan, Halaib, Shalateen, and Marsa Alam, security officials, and the Future of Egypt Agency.
Fayez Abu Harb, organization secretary for the Arab Tribes Union, announced that the president directed the convening of this meeting to establish a mechanism to legalize the status of gold prospectors, known locally as “الدهابة”, and regulate the activity under state supervision.
The Rshaida tribe expressed gratitude to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for approving the initiative proposed by the tribal council, which aims to resolve the crisis while preserving individual and state rights. The Union of Egyptian Tribes and Families likewise thanked the president for supporting the union’s efforts to solve the problems faced by workers in the sector.
The state’s approach combines economic formalization with security measures, addressing the vulnerabilities of miners operating in remote border areas who faced risks from criminal networks, cross-border smuggling, and armed robbery. Alongside security sweeps led by the Armed Forces, the newly announced framework provides legal pathways for work, oversees the exploitation of mineral wealth, and addresses the legal status of detainees linked to previous prospecting cases.
The Future of Egypt Agency will help establish the regulatory frameworks for the sector, ensuring that oversight protects both state revenues and local livelihoods.
