By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Belgium, July 13 ,2026 - The European Union has imposed sweeping new sanctions on Sudan's gold sector, banning the import and trade of Sudanese gold within the bloc in a move aimed at cutting off one of the main sources of financing for the country's devastating civil war.
The measures, announced by the Council of the European Union, also prohibit the sale, supply and export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan, two chemicals widely used in gold mining and processing. EU officials said the restrictions are intended to limit the ability of both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to generate revenue from the country's lucrative gold industry.
The latest sanctions mark one of the EU's strongest economic actions since conflict erupted in April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and the RSF, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. According to international agencies, the conflict has displaced millions of people, disrupted food production, crippled the economy and intensified competition over the country's natural resources.
Under the new measures, companies and individuals operating within the European Union will no longer be permitted to purchase, import or transfer gold originating from Sudan. The restrictions also block exports of mercury and cyanide, which are essential inputs in both industrial and artisanal gold extraction.
In a statement, the Council of the European Union said:
"The decision introduces a ban on the purchase, import or transfer of gold originating in Sudan. It also bans the sale, supply, transfer or export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan."
Gold has become Sudan's most valuable export and one of its few remaining sources of foreign exchange following years of economic instability and international sanctions.
Industry estimates indicate that Sudan ranks among Africa's largest gold producers, with both formal mining operations and a vast informal artisanal mining sector contributing significantly to national output. However, experts have repeatedly warned that much of the trade has become increasingly difficult to trace, allowing armed groups and illicit networks to profit from mineral exports.
Revenue generated from gold sales has become a critical funding source for the rival military factions, enabling them to purchase weapons, sustain military operations and finance parallel economic structures despite international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
Analysts say restricting access to international gold markets could make it more difficult for the warring parties to monetize the precious metal through formal trading channels, although concerns remain that smuggling routes into neighbouring countries could continue to facilitate illicit exports.
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The sanctions form part of wider international efforts to increase economic pressure on actors fueling Sudan's conflict. The European Union, United States and United Kingdom have progressively expanded sanctions against military leaders, companies and individuals accused of supporting the war through financial or logistical means.
The EU said the latest restrictions specifically target economic activities believed to sustain the conflict rather than imposing broader trade measures that could further worsen humanitarian conditions.
Beyond Sudan, the sanctions could have wider implications for regional gold trade and supply chains, particularly in neighbouring countries where Sudanese gold is often transported for refining or export.
Market observers expect traders and refiners dealing in African gold to strengthen due diligence and traceability measures to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
The restrictions also highlight growing international scrutiny of conflict minerals, with regulators increasingly seeking to prevent commodities such as gold from financing armed conflicts while encouraging greater transparency across global supply chains.
For Sudan, however, the measures are likely to deepen pressure on an economy already weakened by prolonged conflict, high inflation, collapsing public services and declining investment, even as international mediators continue efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire.