Britain has announced new sanctions targeting what it describes as “illicit gold and finance networks” that are exacerbating the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The foreign ministry indicated that the country’s lucrative gold trade, valued in the billions, is currently being leveraged to fund weapons procurement and military operations for rival factions, namely the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The sanctions will affect 11 individuals and businesses Linked to these financing networks, specifically aimed at entities believed to be backing the RSF and the regular army. Since the eruption of violent conflict in April 2023, estimates suggest that the war has claimed the lives of approximately 200,000 people while forcing over 11 million individuals from their homes.
The targeted individuals are all Sudanese, and their business operations extend internationally, particularly influencing gold markets in Dubai and Hong Kong, as stated by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Among those sanctioned is Abu Dharr, a Sudanese national accused of funding the RSF through a complex array of real estate investments, conflict gold dealings, and holding companies situated in Dubai.
In addition to Dharr, sanctions have been placed on three UAE-based Sudanese companies and one firm based in Hong Kong. Furthermore, two state-owned mining companies have faced scrutiny for allegedly generating gold revenues for the SAF. The Ariab Mining Company, another state entity, has also been implicated for reportedly channeling revenues from conflict gold to finance both the SAF and the RSF.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the dire situation in Sudan, stating, “The people of Sudan continue to pay the price for a war fuelled not only by guns and fighters, but by illicit flows of gold and finance to fill the war chests on both sides.” As Africa’s third-largest nation and a leading gold producer, Sudan’s mining capabilities have reportedly peaked, with production reaching a five-year high of 70 tonnes in 2025 according to the state-run Sudanese Mineral Resources Company.
The UN highlighted that both factions wield significant control over national resources, thereby sustaining a “war economy” that contributes to the ongoing conflict. The UK has previously sanctioned several senior RSF commanders, who have also been under the scrutiny of the European Union. The RSF is alleged to act as a “proxy” for the UAE, which has denied claims of arming the paramilitary group despite evidence from multiple international reports.
On Tuesday, the European Council announced plans to enhance sanctions against actors involved in financing the conflict by implementing a ban on the purchase, import, or transfer of gold originating from Sudan.
