Egyptian army to launch fourth phase of campaign against illegal gold prospecting
Egypt's army announced on Thursday that it will begin the fourth phase of its large-scale campaign against illegal gold prospecting in the Eastern Desert on Saturday. It said its forces have not targeted civilians and are working to protect the country's borders. Media reports citing the military spokesman said two officers, the chief of staff of the southern region border guards and a battalion operations chief, were killed in clashes with armed elements linked to the prospecting.
Why it matters
The fourth phase of the campaign and the deaths of two officers suggest that illegal gold prospecting has become a security issue on Egypt's southern border, not merely an economic violation. Conditions in the border areas of the Eastern Desert are likely to remain under close watch in the coming period.
Background
Egypt's Eastern Desert is a vast desert region where gold prospecting takes place. Illegal prospecting means digging for gold without official authorization. Egypt's armed forces are responsible for securing the country's borders, including its southern frontier.
Key points
- According to Sky News Arabia, the military spokesman who announced the campaign's results is Colonel Ahmed Othman.
- CNN Arabic put the phrase "carried out inside the country's territory" in quotation marks in its headline on the campaign.
- According to Al Jazeera, the effort against illegal gold prospecting took place on the country's southern border.
- According to RT Arabic, the two officers were killed in an exchange of fire with armed elements linked to illegal gold prospecting.
- RT Arabic's headline used the term "dahaba" (gold diggers) and described them as Sudanese when referring to those targeted by the campaign.
What’s next
According to CNN Arabic, the fourth phase of the campaign will begin on the Saturday following Thursday's announcement.
How outlets covered it
CNN Arabic focused on the start date of the fourth phase and the army's assertion that it did not target civilians and is protecting the border. In the material available, Sky News Arabia noted only that the military spokesman announced the campaign's results, without details. Al Jazeera and RT Arabic centered on the deaths of the two officers: Al Jazeera placed the events on the southern border, while RT cited the Eastern Desert and an exchange of fire with armed elements. Only RT Arabic described those targeted in its headline as Sudanese "dahaba"; the other outlets' material does not mention this.
How outlets headlined it
- CNN بالعربية"تتم داخل أراضي البلاد".. الجيش المصري يكشف تفاصيل الحملة ضد "منقبي الذهب"
- سكاي نيوز عربيةمصر.. المتحدث العسكري يكشف نتائج حملة ملاحقة منقبي الذهب
- الجزيرةالجيش المصري: مقتل ضابطين في حملة لمكافحة التنقيب عن الذهب على الحدود الجنوبية
- روسيا اليوم (RT Arabic)الجيش المصري يعلن مقتل ضابطين ويكشف نتائج حملته على "الدهابة" السودانيين
This is a brief summary. The full details and context are in the original coverage.
Read the full story at CNN بالعربيةIn this story:Egypt
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