Sudan’s conflict is being exacerbated by an illicit gold trade, with precious metals being smuggled out to finance arms for both the military and RSF since April 2023. The wealth generated primarily flows to the UAE, which has ties to the RSF despite their documented war crimes. Declan Walsh from The New York Times emphasizes that gold is central to the RSF’s power dynamics.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which pits the military against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is significantly fueled by the illicit gold trade. Reports indicate that both factions are smuggling substantial amounts of gold out of Sudan to finance their military operations, which have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths since civil war erupted in April 2023. Much of this extracted wealth finds its way to the United Arab Emirates, which has been identified as a supporter of the RSF, despite growing evidence of their involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity. This trade is pivotal to the RSF’s increasing power, as highlighted by New York Times correspondent Declan Walsh, who states, “Gold is really at the heart of the RSF’s ascent to power.”
The gold trade in Sudan serves as a key financial resource for warring factions, particularly in times of escalating violence. The RSF, recognized for its role in perpetrating atrocities, has been able to leverage these gold resources to sustain and enhance its military capabilities. This dynamic poses a significant challenge for international efforts aimed at restoring peace in the region, complicating the humanitarian crisis further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict. As organizations like the United Nations call for ceasefire, the crucial interplay between illegal resource exploitation and warfare remains critical to understanding the conflict’s longevity and severity.
The current hostilities in Sudan illustrate a tragic intersection of natural resource exploitation and human suffering. The illicit gold trade not only fuels the violence but also enriches entities with a troubling record of human rights abuses, such as the RSF. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive efforts to curtail the illegal activities that sustain such conflicts and protect the civilian population affected by the ongoing violence.
Original Source: www.democracynow.org