Sudan’s Gold Economy Is Fueling a Regional Security Challenge

(The Soufan Center) Egyptian authorities detained hundreds of people — 87 Egyptians and 136 foreigners — and seized large amounts of equipment last week in a sweeping operation targeting illegal gold mining and smuggling along its border with Sudan. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces had been heavily involved in the gold trade prior to the breakout of the Sudan war, however, the current conflict has exacerbated gold’s role within Sudan’s political economy as a driver of the conflict. Artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has emerged as a top security, environmental, and public health concern within the region. The regional consequences of artisanal small-scale gold mining are increasingly pronounced as illicit gold flows intersect with broader transnational trafficking networks involving arms, narcotics, and human movement. – Sudan’s Gold Economy Is Fueling a Regional Security Challenge – The Soufan Center