Mounting pressure is building up as the Sudan Gold Exporters Association calls for immediate Government intervention to stabilize the country’s gold sector and safeguard fuel imports.
In a sharply worded statement issued on Sunday, April 12, the association warned that persistent irregularities and alleged interference in gold exports are undermining the economy, distorting the exchange rate, and depriving citizens of the full benefit of the country’s mineral wealth.
Chairman Abdel Moniem al-Siddiq urged a “transparent and comprehensive investigation” into what he described as a widening discrepancy between actual production and officially recorded exports. He noted that while annual gold output exceeds 70 tonnes—valued at more than $6 billion—official export revenues reported by the Central Bank of Sudan remain below $2 billion.
“This disparity raises serious questions about the fate of substantial national resources,” he said, cautioning that unchecked practices pose a direct threat to economic stability.
The association further alleged that currency traders and illicit networks are capturing a significant share of production for private gain, thereby weakening state revenues. It warned that such distortions are particularly damaging in a country where gold exports underpin the financing of critical imports, including petroleum products.
Sudan’s reliance on gold as a fiscal lifeline has intensified scrutiny over governance in the sector. The country exports the commodity primarily to markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, yet technical estimates suggest that between 48% and 60% of production is diverted through informal or smuggled channels.
The call for reform also echoes earlier disclosures by Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim, who confirmed that while production reached roughly 70 tonnes in 2025, official exports were significantly lower. Central bank data indicated exports of just 14.7 tonnes, generating $1.536 billion, despite gold accounting for more than half of total export earnings.
Against this backdrop, the exporters’ body is urging decisive regulatory action to tighten oversight, curb smuggling, and ensure that gold revenues are channelled into the national treasury—framing the sector not merely as a commercial enterprise, but as a strategic pillar for macroeconomic recovery in Sudan.
