Sudan’s War Economy: How Gold Sustains a Hidden Conflict

The conflict in Sudan has evolved beyond traditional warfare, increasingly driven by economic forces and the erosion of state authority. Analysts, including Roula Merhej, warn that the absence of effective governance has left civilians unprotected while enabling parallel economies to thrive.

At the center of this dynamic is gold, one of Sudan’s most valuable resources. Rather than being traded through formal systems, gold is now extracted in conflict zones controlled by militias, notably the Rapid Support Forces, and funneled through informal and opaque networks.

The process typically unfolds in stages: extraction in militia-held areas, followed by cross-border smuggling through regional routes—often via Chad and Libya—before reaching international markets. The Dubai has become a key destination in this trade, frequently linked to transactions outside official channels.

These economic flows extend beyond smuggling, feeding into broader systems of influence, infrastructure investment, and arms supply. Profits generated from gold are reinvested through complex networks involving front companies, helping sustain both logistics operations and the conflict itself.

Experts also highlight the limited global attention given to Sudan, noting that the crisis is often overshadowed by more geopolitically prominent conflicts. This lack of scrutiny allows illicit systems to operate with relative impunity.

As modern conflicts become less visible, Sudan illustrates how war can be sustained through hidden economic mechanisms. The interconnection of gold, weapons, and financial networks has created a self-perpetuating cycle, where the conflict continues to fuel itself.

Source: Newstimehub