Sudan are experiencing their third civil war which began in 2023. According to reports, south Sudan split with northern Sudan in 2011, said to be due to cultural and religous differences. Reportedly, north Sudan is mainly arabic and muslim, but inp 1978 oil reserves were discovered in the south which have caused further tension, though the oil has to run through pipelines in the north compelling the two to make multiple agreements to share resources.
According to a report, northern and southern Sudan were governed as seperate entities under british empire rule, said to prevent northern exploitation though gold has been mined in northern Sudan for thousands of years. Reportedly, in 2011 South Sudan’s withdrawal from Sudan, that is previously north Sudan, decreased oil revenue by 75% causing a crisis, but in 2012 gold was discovered in Darfur, south Sudan which is said to have exacerbated a conflict between the sudanese army and a break away group called the rapid support forces who according to the u.n. are backed by the united arab emirates.
According to a report,
massive deposits of gold was discovered in Darfur in 2012, the rsf entered Darfur in 2025 and are now in control and causing violent land clearances and forced displacement that has been described as genocide.
Reportedly, Sudan is one of Africa’s top gold producers with between 80-90% mined by around 200,000 migrant workers using traditional methods and smuggled out of the country. According to a report, the eu say over 70% of Sudan’s gold is unaccounted for.