Record high gold prices exacerbate the situation of gold smuggling in Sudan.

The record-breaking price of gold is driving a boom in Sudan's mining industry, providing a crucial source of income for all parties involved in the country's civil war. Two recent reports show that last year, gold production in Sudan reached its highest level in six years, driven by an increasing number of artisanal miners and easy access to imported mining chemicals. According to Swissaid estimates, Sudan produced about 80 tons of gold last year, valued at over $6 billion, making it one of the top four gold-producing countries in Africa. The reports state that over half of the gold is smuggled, with most of it being sent to countries like the UAE and Russia. The control of gold assets has been one of the driving factors of the civil war in Sudan.