Sudan: Gold Exporters Accuse Influential Actors of Draining Sudan's Gold Wealth

What the report says

Sudan’s Gold Exporters Division is warning that the country is losing large amounts of potential revenue because gold is being moved outside official channels, according to Dabanga, distributed by AllAfrica. In remarks reported from Khartoum, division head Abdelmoneim Siddig said Sudan produces more than 70 tonnes of gold a year, but only a fraction of the estimated value reaches the state treasury. He argued that better management of the sector could help bring in foreign currency and ease the country’s economic pressures.

Siddig accused influential actors of exporting gold informally and said the Central Bank of Sudan’s gold-buying practices are part of the problem. He said the bank’s pricing approach encourages producers to bypass formal channels and adds pressure on the Sudanese pound. The report says he also linked smuggled gold to access to foreign currency for travellers, students and patients, while warning that weak oversight and policy failures could worsen living costs and strain public services.

The article also notes a separate dispute between mining companies and the government over how gold is priced and paid for. The Union of Mining Companies in Sudan has threatened to stop production, saying the current system makes it difficult to meet financial obligations. In response, the Central Bank recently changed rules for companies handling gold from mining waste, including limits on bank processing without written approval. The situation highlights broader tension over how Sudan regulates a sector seen as vital to its economy.