Why Africa’s illicit gold trade is so hard to curb
Why Africa’s illicit gold trade is so hard to curb newspress_en Mon, 09/28/2026 - 04:17 Business & Economy Africa is rich in rare earths and critical minerals but has not yet made the most of its natural wealth. Indeed, there have been times when the continent’s blessings have seemed more like a curse. Western colonisers spent years exploiting it, and since independence arrived throughout the…
Africa's illicit gold trade remains a persistent challenge, a shadow cast by the continent's underlying instability and weak governance. The region's rich deposits of rare earths and critical minerals have historically been exploited by Western powers, and the post-colonial period has witnessed coups, wars, and a continuous struggle for control over natural resources. This climate of lawlessness has facilitated widespread theft of precious metals and minerals, including gold.
The allure of gold is particularly strong in times of conflict, when it serves as a valuable source of funding for armed groups. In Sudan, the brutal civil war has left most state structures in ruins, paving the way for illegal gold trading. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, controls most of the gold deposits in the western region of Darfur. Despite denials by the United Arab Emirates, Sudan's gold is smuggled through neighboring nations, including Libya, the Central African Republic, and Chad.
The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary outfit, has been involved in gold trading in the Central African Republic (CAR). The US Treasury has identified Wagner-linked firms, including Midas Resources, as key players in financing Wagner's operations in the CAR and beyond. Wagner also had a stake in Malian gold operations before withdrawing from the country, and the group has expanded its presence to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
These countries, collectively known as the Sahel region, have seen a surge in mining-induced violence due to the instability and breakdown in governance.
Artisanal mining areas, where gold is often extracted, attract armed groups due to the concentration of economic activity, mobile populations, transport links, and commercial supply chains. These areas provide militants with the necessary infrastructure to blend in among miners, store weapons, and sustain their operations with a lower risk of detection.
Moreover, groups like Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have established semi-permanent bases within artisanal mining sites, further facilitating their gold smuggling operations.
The impact of this illicit gold trade extends beyond the Sahel region. For instance, the conflict in Sudan has reshaped Egypt's battle for gold, highlighting the interconnectedness of these crises. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has engaged in discussions with Mali's leader regarding Islamists, gold, and nuclear power, further emphasizing the correlation between conflict and the illicit trade of precious metals.
Written by urgent.news from Al Majalla English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
