Sudan’s Gold Trade: The UAE’s Role in Wartime Profits

Sudan’s ongoing conflict heavily relies on gold exports, predominantly routed through the UAE, benefiting military factions despite the nation’s economic decline. Official statistics reveal soaring gold production, with nearly half reportedly smuggled. Legal actions against the UAE for complicity in human rights abuses add complexity to the situation, as both countries grapple with the implications of the lucrative and contentious gold trade.

Sudan’s gold industry has become a crucial source of revenue amid ongoing conflict, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) serving as the primary destination for nearly all gold trade. Reports from both official and non-governmental sources indicate that the country’s military forces and paramilitary groups benefit significantly from the gold trade, which is believed to prolong the conflict. In February, the Sudan Mineral Resources Company projected a record gold production of 64 tonnes for 2024, a marked increase from previous years.

Economist Abdelazim al-Amawy noted that tracking the gold trade leads to the UAE, emphasizing its role in sustaining the conflict. Despite UAE officials rejecting allegations of smuggling, research supports claims that the majority of Sudan’s gold is exported through various channels to the UAE. Furthermore, the government’s gold sales reportedly generated $1.57 billion, although nearly half of this production is thought to be smuggled.

While the UAE officially disclaims involvement in the conflict, it has been accused of complicity in Sudan’s wartime activities. Furthermore, significant amounts of gold produced by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are reportedly smuggled across neighboring borders before reaching the UAE. Sudan has initiated legal action against the UAE at the International Court of Justice, alleging involvement in human rights abuses in Darfur, which the UAE has dismissed as a mere publicity effort.

The Kush mine, a key asset in Sudan’s gold industry now produces substantial amounts of gold under the ownership of a Dubai-based firm, Emiral Resources. Notably, the UAE has become a major player in the global gold market, ranking as the second-largest gold exporter in 2023, while evidence suggests that smuggling remains rampant due to unregulated oversight.

Experts claim that the UAE has failed to implement adequate regulations on gold sourcing, as indicated by the staggering amount of imports allegedly exceeding the region’s capacities. Furthermore, the considerable wealth amassed by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, largely generated from gold mining, has fueled his military endeavors. Reports indicate that significant volumes of gold are smuggled from Sudan to the UAE through a complex logistics network, including routes through Uganda and Kenya, revealing the depth of the smuggling operations and their implications for the ongoing conflict.

The gold trade in Sudan, increasingly critical in financing the ongoing conflict, predominantly flows to the UAE, implicating its government in sustaining the hostilities. Despite UAE official denials of any wrongdoing, substantial evidence supports claims of extensive smuggling and complicity. The legal actions initiated by Sudan against the UAE, combined with the influence of powerful paramilitary factions on gold production, highlight the intricate link between Sudan’s gold trade and the broader geopolitical landscape. Therefore, adequate international scrutiny is essential to address the implications of these findings.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr