### Sudan’s Gold Industry and the Role of the United Arab Emirates
Gold production has emerged as a primary financial engine for both sides of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023. Despite the Sudanese army’s public accusations that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is providing logistical and military support to its adversary, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the UAE remains the primary destination for the vast majority of Sudan’s gold exports.
#### The Alliance Mining Operation
Alliance Mining, recognized as one of Sudan’s largest gold producers, operates in the Haya area near the border of the River Nile and Red Sea states—territory currently controlled by the Sudanese army. The company is majority-owned (68%) by the UAE-based Emiral Resources Ltd.
While the Sudanese government filed a court case against the UAE in March 2025, alleging genocide due to the country’s purported support for the RSF, the gold trade between the two nations continues. Emiral Resources Ltd has refuted any connection to the UAE government or the funding of military activities. The company maintains that it operates in full compliance with Sudanese law and denies allegations of smuggling or preferential access to facilities based on nationality.
#### Production and Smuggling Concerns
According to the Sudan Mineral Resources Company (SMRC), gold production in army-controlled areas reached 71 tons in 2024. However, official export figures often fall significantly short of production data. SwissAid reports that between 2012 and 2024, there was a discrepancy of 515 tons between recorded production and declared exports, suggesting widespread smuggling.
Researchers and industry analysts, including senior researcher Suleiman Baldo, suggest that the state is complicit in this trade. Much of the gold sector relies on “tailings” or “karta” processing—a low-investment, high-yield method that utilizes artisanal miners. Critics argue this system lacks transparency and facilitates the illicit movement of gold.
#### The Role of the UAE and Regional Neighbors
In 2023, approximately 97 percent of gold exports from army-controlled areas in Sudan were sent to the UAE. Analysts suggest that the UAE’s developed financial infrastructure and status as a global gold hub make it the most accessible market for Sudanese traders, despite the political tensions between the two governments.
Regional neighbors, particularly Egypt, are also central to the trade. Gold traders and researchers indicate that significant quantities of gold are smuggled across the border into Egypt, where it is often re-exported to the UAE. Egyptian and Sudanese security actors have been accused of benefiting from these unregulated flows, which are driven by favorable tax policies and the need for hard currency.
#### Impact on the Conflict
The ongoing war has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations estimating at least 150,000 deaths and 12 million people displaced. While humanitarian aid frequently faces obstruction, the gold trade continues to thrive, providing both the Sudanese army and the RSF with the revenue necessary to procure weaponry.
Economists and political figures, such as Mubarak Al-Fadl, argue that the lack of oversight regarding gold revenues provides a financial incentive for military and political elites to prolong the conflict. As the war enters its third year, the gold sector remains a critical, albeit controversial, component of the Sudanese economy, with production reportedly expanding even as the country faces widespread food insecurity and economic instability.
Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: RFI
