Updated: 26 October 2025 16:08:16
Environmental Disaster in South Kordufan
Moatinoon
The Taqola area in South Kordufan State is witnessing a growing environmental disaster, manifested in the continued mass deaths of cattle near gold extraction ponds that use the toxic chemical cyanide, amid public protests, according to the Demands Bodies Alliance (TAM).
The alliance said that a video filmed by a local resident showed seven dead cows that had displayed symptoms of sudden bloating before dying. A veterinary expert stressed that such bloating before death indicates exposure to a toxic substance, which can be fatal if the dose is high, though animals may survive if treated quickly. According to TAM, the veterinarian described the overall situation as “extremely dangerous.”
The Taqola area contains more than 200 gold extraction sites using cyanide, operating in the complete absence of government oversight and without the enforcement of safety measures needed to protect people and the environment.
TAM added that local sources confirmed a sharp increase in cattle deaths at a mining site owned by a private investor in recent days, while the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company has taken no action to address this serious phenomenon.
The alliance called on administrative and military authorities to urgently conduct laboratory tests on water, soil, and air, declare the area a chemical contamination zone, and take the necessary safety measures.
Earlier, TAM had urged the closure of markets in the Triangle Area (Talodi, Kalogi, and Liri), similar to previous steps taken to close local markets, in order to prevent an impending health and environmental disaster caused by the spread of acute and fatal diarrhea—believed to be the result of cyanide contamination from mining operations in the area.
TAM stated that the situation in the Triangle Area indicates uncontrolled chemical pollution, calling for the immediate formation of an independent medical, environmental, and laboratory expert committee to carry out the necessary testing of water, air, and soil samples.
