Khartoum, September 27 (Darfur24)
A new report by the Adala Center for Research and Studies, with support from the Washington-based security nonprofit C4ADS, has revealed how gold smuggling has become a key source of funding for Sudan’s warring parties.
Since the outbreak of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023, control over gold mines and export routes has become a strategic priority for both sides. By bypassing state institutions, they have turned gold into a critical source of hard currency, sustaining the war despite international pressure and sanctions.
According to the report, the RSF operates through a dual system: institutional smuggling via the Al-Juneid Company and informal networks along Sudan’s western and southern borders. SAF, meanwhile, uses state institutions and private companies to export gold formally and informally. Together, these networks smuggle an estimated 80% of Sudan’s gold through neighboring countries—including South Sudan, Chad, Egypt, and Kenya—before it reaches global markets, particularly the United Arab Emirates.
The report highlights how both sides use revenues from gold exports to purchase weapons, pay fighters, and build financial independence. This shadow economy has deprived the public treasury of billions of dollars, weakened state institutions, and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
Gold smuggling routes have shifted since the war began, with large volumes crossing into South Sudan and Chad, and eventually being exported through Dubai. Data shows a sharp increase in gold exports from regional countries that do not match their domestic production, indicating Sudanese gold is flowing through illicit channels.
Despite sanctions imposed on key companies linked to both SAF and RSF, including Al-Juneid and firms tied to Sudan’s defense industries, the report says these measures have had limited impact. Both factions continue to rely on regional intermediaries and foreign partners to sustain their operations.
The report concludes that Sudan’s gold—once seen as an economic lifeline—has instead become a driver of war, financing continued fighting and undermining any prospects for peace.