The spectre of war-torn Sudan looms large over the Horn of Africa, its humanitarian crisis drawing increasingly dire comparisons to some of the darkest episodes in modern history. Amidst this backdrop, a crucial chapter in the story of illicit financing has unfolded, with the UK taking decisive action to disrupt networks fuelling the conflict through the lucrative gold trade. A package of new sanctions targeting eleven individuals and entities suspected of being involved in these shadowy dealings is the latest salvo in an effort to expose and dismantle Sudan's war economy.
Sudan's gold industry stands at the epicentre of this crisis, with official exports valued at approximately $1.5 billion in 2024 and 2025, but estimates suggest billions more are smuggled out of the country each year – illicit revenues that fuel military procurement, operations, and the activities of armed groups.
Abu Dharr, a Sudanese national, is a central figure in these sanctions, suspected of being a key financier and procurement facilitator for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). His alleged activities span real estate holdings, conflict gold dealings, and holding companies based in Dubai, supporting RSF operations from outside Sudan. Other entities targeted by the UK include Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services, a UAE-based company suspected of being part of Abu Dharr's network, and Natwest Logistics, also Sudanese and UAE-based, believed to have been used by procurement operatives Mazin Fadlalla and Ahmed Hashim to support RSF activities.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has underscored the UK's commitment to tackling those who profit from conflict. The sanctions aim to target Sudan's war economy and expose illegal shadow networks, she stated. Cooper also highlighted the deeply alarming situation around El Obeid, where the RSF is reportedly building up forces, and reiterated calls for the RSF to halt their assault. The UK has warned that El Obeid is at risk of becoming another site of mass atrocities, drawing parallels with those witnessed in El Fasher, and urged for the UN arms embargo to be extended to cover the city.
The issue of illicit gold trade will be a priority theme at the UK's Illicit Finance Summit scheduled for December 2026 in London. This summit will convene governments, civil society organisations, and the private sector to foster an international coalition dedicated to combating the global flow of dirty money, with a specific focus on the trade in illicit gold. These measures underscore the UK's broader strategy to use financial leverage to address international conflicts and humanitarian crises.