Gold and the Financing of War in Sudan: From Chaos to Tools of Control

Gold and the Financing of War in Sudan: From Chaos to Tools of Control

By: Omar Sidahmed

Introduction: A Royal Legacy and a Forgotten Fortune

For millennia, gold was the backbone of civilizations that flourished in what is now Sudan—particularly the kingdoms of Kush and Napata. The region was known to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks as “Nubia” or “Land of Gold,” a name reflecting the abundance of this precious metal and its link to sovereignty and trade. Inscriptions in Napata and Meroë, along with trade routes connecting Aswan, Halfa, Meroë, and Suakin, are lasting evidence of this (Ministry of Minerals, 2024).

What was once a symbol of sovereignty has, in recent decades, become a driver of chaos and division. Gold is now exploited to fund conflicts and smuggled under the shadow of institutional weakness and the collapse of state structures (Global Witness, 2022; Chatham House, 2025).

Gold: A Treasury of War Instead of a Resource for Development

Despite Sudan’s vast gold reserves—among the largest in Africa—this wealth has largely fueled war and illicit trade rather than supporting the national economy. Official figures estimate production between April and August 2023 at just 2 tons, while between 50% to 80% of actual output is smuggled, primarily through the United Arab Emirates (Sudan Tribune, 2023; Time Magazine, 2024).

Both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Army have financed their operations with gold revenues since the outbreak of war in April 2023 (Chatham House, 2025).

Production and Export: Misleading Figures

Sudan’s gold sector boomed after 2010, peaking in 2016 at 93 tons. However, production dropped to 34.5 tons in 2022 before climbing again to 65 tons in 2024 (Ministry of Minerals, 2024). Yet, despite increased production, revenues declined—from $2.02 billion in 2022 to $1.6 billion in 2024—even as global gold prices rose by 30% (World Gold Council, 2024).

This gap points to major flaws in marketing and oversight systems, further confirming widespread smuggling (Global Witness, 2022).

The Parallel Economy, Manipulation, and Corruption

Gold has become a pillar of Sudan’s informal economy, traded outside the formal banking system. Many gold firms operate under the protection of powerful entities, beyond the reach of state oversight (Sudanese Transparency Initiative, 2020). Some registered companies are allegedly involved in smuggling, backed by security agencies, while mining concessions are often awarded based on political ties, not economic merit (Suleiman, 2021; Africa Intelligence, 2023).

Smuggling: The Largest Leak

An estimated 70% to 80% of Sudan’s gold production is smuggled annually across borders with Egypt, Libya, Chad, and the Central African Republic via local and international networks (Sudan Tribune, 2023; Global Witness, 2022). Smuggling has become institutionalized, with intertwined interests between domestic actors and foreign entities (Chatham House, 2025; ICG, 2023).

Environmental and Health Impacts

Traditional mining relies heavily on unregulated use of mercury and cyanide, leading to water contamination, soil degradation, and outbreaks of respiratory and skin diseases—particularly in the Nile River State, South Kordofan, and Darfur (WHO, 2023; BBC Africa, 2021; Renewable Energy Center, 2023).

War: Gold as Fuel for Conflict

Since 2023, gold mines in Darfur and South Kordofan have come under the control of armed factions that use the proceeds to purchase weapons and fund military operations (Chatham House, 2025; Global Witness, 2022). These mines have effectively become “sovereign zones” outside the reach of the state.

A Decade of Losses: The Cost of Smuggled Gold

Independent reports indicate that between 50% and 80% of Sudan’s gold output is smuggled, depriving the state of massive revenues (Global Witness, 2022; Sudan Tribune, 2023). Based on the 2024 global average price of gold ($64,000/kg), Sudan’s losses over the past decade are estimated between $23 billion and $36.8 billion:

Sources: Ministry of Minerals, 2024; STPT, 2024; Chatham House, 2025)

A Lesson from Burkina Faso

Despite fragile security, Burkina Faso implemented successful reforms to reclaim control over its gold sector. Since 2022, reforms have included:

• Amending mining laws.
• Establishing a national company to manage major mines like Boungou and Wahgnion.
• Creating a national gold reserve.

By 2025, annual production rose to 62 tons, and the government collected over 11 tons from artisanal mining in just one quarter (Chatham House, 2025). The sector has helped finance the national budget and reduced reliance on foreign aid.

This success was not a miracle—but a practical model Sudan could follow with political will and a clear economic vision.

Urgent Reforms

Smart Oversight:

• Issue gold-backed bonds for delivered gold.
• Deploy mobile purchasing units to curb smuggling.
• Launch a national digital platform for real-time gold pricing (STPT, 2024).

Institutional and Structural Reform:

• Publish concession contracts and production reports.
• Ban ownership or operation of mining companies by government officials.
• Strengthen regional cooperation to dismantle smuggling networks (Global Witness, 2022; Chatham House, 2025).

Strategic Proposals:

1. Sudanese sovereign gold bullion.
2. Gold bonds to finance strategic projects.
3. A national “Gold City.”
4. Production-sharing models.
5. Joint-stock companies between the state and miners.
6. Cooperatives for artisanal miners.
7. Exclusive export and purchasing through the Central Bank.
8. A national import matrix backed by gold.
9. Link mining to renewable energy.
10. A Sudanese exchange for gold and minerals.

Gold as a Financial Asset

A national exchange and gold-backed bonds would transform gold from a source of corruption and conflict into a strategic financial asset for reconstruction and long-term investment (World Bank, 2022; Al Jazeera, 2023).

Conclusion: Reclaiming Gold from the Grip of Chaos — A Test of Sovereignty

Sudan’s gold sector is no longer just an economic file—it is a litmus test for state sovereignty and the authenticity of reform efforts. How this wealth is managed reflects the nature of power, governance, and institutional integrity.

Gold can either be administered with the mindset of a modern state—anchored in law, accountability, transparency, and institutional strength—or remain a tool for militias, a commodity for patronage, and a fuel for endless conflict. Between these paths lies the shape of Sudan’s future.

Today, gold symbolizes both the depth of the national crisis and the seeds of its resolution. Just as it has funded war, it can fund recovery. Just as it has been squandered, it can become a national asset—if managed with transparency and real oversight.

Global precedents prove this transformation is possible. Burkina Faso did it. Others have too—through sovereign visions, not just technical fixes. Sudan must now reclaim its role: regulator, protector, and steward of public wealth.

What’s needed isn’t isolated actions but a holistic national vision—one that redefines the relationship between state and resources, society and wealth, politics and the economy. A transparent exchange, an independent refinery, a powerful regulatory body, and a mining sector free from shadow control—these are not luxuries. They are the building blocks of a new Sudan.

Gold is no longer just a resource. It’s the clearest test: either we reclaim it for the people, or leave it to warlords and arms dealers to dismantle the state.

The moment of decision is here. The window is still open—but it won’t stay that way for long.

Final Cry: Whoever Controls the Gold… Controls the Future

In a country where a mine’s yield can buy an arsenal, gold is no longer a raw natural resource. It has become a decisive weapon in the struggle for power. The debate over gold in Sudan is no longer economic—it’s a battle for the soul of the state.

Sudan now faces a critical choice: either reclaim this sovereign asset from the grip of chaos, corruption, and smuggling—or watch the forces of war and secrecy keep using it to drive collapse.

The choice is clear. Either gold becomes the foundation for rebuilding a new Sudan—or remains loot for the merchants of blood and arms.

Arabic Sources

1. Sudanese Ministry of Minerals. Annual Performance Report 2016–2024.
2. Sudanese Ministry of Minerals. Gold Sector Development Plan, 2023.
3. Future Studies Center. Traditional Mining Sector, 2020.
4. Suleiman, Ahmed. The Shadow Economy of Gold in Sudan, Arab Center, 2021.
5. Sudan Tribune. Various reports, 2022–2024.
6. Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker (STPT). Gold Sector Transparency Report, 2020.
7. Al Jazeera Net. “Sudan’s Gold and the Parallel Economy,” 2023.
8. Al Jazeera Net. “Mercury Mining in Sudan,” 2022.
9. Renewable Energy Studies Center. Impact of Traditional Mining on the Environment, 2023.

International Sources

1. Chatham House. Gold Production During the War in Sudan, 2025.
2. Chatham House. Sudan and the Regional Conflict System, 2025.
3. Time Magazine. Blood Gold and Sudan-UAE Relations, 2024.
4. Wikipedia. Sudanese Civil War (2023–Present).
5. Global Witness. Militarization of Gold in Sudan, 2022.
6. Global Witness. Transparency and Accountability in the Gold Sector, 2022.
7. Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker (STPT). Tracking Illicit Gold Flows in Sudan, 2023–2024.
8. International Crisis Group (ICG). Gold and War in Sudan, 2023.
9. World Health Organization (WHO). Mercury Exposure in Sudanese Mining, 2023.
10. BBC Africa. Toxic Gold Extraction in Sudan, 2021.
11. World Bank. Sudan Economic Outlook, 2022.
12. World Gold Council. Gold Demand Trends Q1 2024.
13. Africa Intelligence. Mining Sector Reports on Sudan, 2020–2024.

Email: [email protected]

Date: May 2025

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