Sudan has set a new record in gold production, reaching 64 tonnes in 2023, a 53% jump from 41.8 tonnes in 2022.
This sharp increase generated $1.57 billion in legal export revenue, offering a rare boost to the country’s devastated economy, according to figures released by the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC).
SMRC director Mohamed Tahir Omer announced the data during a press briefing held in Cairo, Egypt as reported by Business Insider.
The rise in gold output comes in the midst of ongoing violent conflict
\between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has crippled the economy and displaced more than 12.5 million people since April 2023.
Gold has become a critical source of foreign exchange for Sudan, which is currently experiencing some of the worst inflation in its history.
Omer noted that the workforce capacity in the mining sector had grown significantly, from just 5% to 40%.
“The mining sector has the ability to lead the country towards recovery and economic renaissance,” he said.
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SMRC projects that gold production in the first half of 2025 will reach 37 tonnes, potentially bringing in 403 billion Sudanese pounds in government revenue.
However, smuggling and widespread insecurity continue to undermine these gains.
Omer stated that “nearly half of the state’s production is smuggled across borders.”
Many of the country’s key gold mining sites near South Sudan and the Central African Republic are currently under RSF control, making it difficult for the government to monitor production or collect revenue.
International watchdogs, including Chatham House and Swissaid, estimate that Sudan’s actual gold output may be as high as 80 tonnes annually, with a market value exceeding $6 billion.
Yet a large share of this gold is believed to be traded illegally, with proceeds allegedly fueling both sides of the civil war.
As the country remains mired in the world’s largest internal displacement crisis and its economy continues to unravel, control over gold revenues has become a central issue in Sudan’s chaotic political and economic landscape.
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Image Credit: Pacci
