Sudan's gold trade has surged amid ongoing conflict, with nearly all exports funneled through the United Arab Emirates (UAE), enriching both the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces, according to multiple sources.
Despite a two-year war decimating the Sudanese economy, the army-backed government reported record gold production of 64 tonnes in 2024, significantly up from 41.8 tonnes in 2022. Legal exports generated $1.57 billion for the state's coffers, but Sudanese officials estimate that nearly half of the gold produced is smuggled, primarily into the UAE.
Economist Abdelazim al-Amawy stated that the demand for Sudan's vast gold reserves is a critical factor prolonging the conflict. "To solve the war in Sudan, we have to follow the gold, and we arrive at the UAE," said Marc Ummel from the development organization Swissaid, which tracks African gold smuggling.
In response to allegations of gold smuggling, a UAE official dismissed the claims as "baseless and unfounded." However, Sudan's mining industry and government sources indicate that the majority of gold flows to the UAE through various channels, including direct Emirati ownership of Sudan's most lucrative mine.
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This month, the Sudan Mineral Resources Company confirmed the significant increase in gold production, reflecting the industry's importance to the war economy. As the situation evolves, the international community continues to scrutinize the implications of Sudan's gold trade on regional stability and humanitarian conditions.
