Gold smuggling fuels Sudan's civil war, driving state collapse

Three years into Sudan’s brutal civil war, gold has emerged as a pivotal driver of the conflict, complicating efforts to stabilize the country. Sudan, one of Africa’s largest gold producers, has seen its precious metal commandeered by militias operating in lawless regions where state oversight has effectively disintegrated. This illicit trade, marked by smuggling networks and shadowy economic transactions, has transformed gold into the lifeblood of a war economy. Gold mining, particularly in Sud