As Sudan’s devastating civil war stretches into its second year, a sinister transformation has occurred in the nation’s economy. Once hailed for its mineral potential, Sudan’s gold has become the engine of destruction, transforming from a national asset into a transnational weapon. Each gram of extracted gold now powers a war that has displaced nearly 9 million people, decimated Sudan’s institutions, and plunged its society into chaos.

Prior to the eruption of full-scale conflict in April 2023, Sudan officially produced around 87 tonnes of gold annually, making it one of Africa’s top producers. But within just five months of fighting, that figure collapsed to a mere 2 tonnes. This dramatic decline in official production, however, does not tell the whole story. While formal exports dwindled, an estimated 100 kilograms of gold began to vanish each day across Sudan’s porous borders-more than 60 tonnes to date.

This is no accidental leakage. It is the blueprint of a shadow economy engineered for war. At the center of this system lies a grim calculus: gold equals guns. Artisanal miners, working in precarious and often life-threatening conditions, extract gold under the control of armed groups. From remote pits in Darfur to industrial concessions near the Nile, the proceeds from every ounce mined are rapidly funneled into weapons purchases, fuel supplies, and fighter wages.

The control of gold mines has become as strategically important as any city or oil field. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which holds sway over many of the traditional production zones, has institutionalized its war economy through taxes, levies, and formal........

© Blitz