Sudan’s civil war is driven by a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both vying for control over the country’s gold. Gold, Sudan’s most valuable resource, is mined mostly by artisanal workers under harsh conditions and used by both factions to fund weapons. The UAE and Egypt are key external players—reportedly backing RSF and SAF respectively—while Sudanese gold flows into global markets, especially through Dubai. This international demand sustains the conflict, making peace efforts more complex and urgent. Experts argue that any peace effort must address the role of gold in sustaining the conflict, so that Sudan’s wealth can one day rebuild the nation instead of tearing it apart.

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