The European Union has imposed a comprehensive ban on the purchase, import, and transfer of gold from Sudan, aiming to sever a critical funding stream for the civil war that has ravaged the country since April 2023.
The measure targets the illicit trade that has become a primary source of financing for the conflict's warring factions.
The restrictions are part of a broader sanctions package that also prohibits the export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan.
These chemicals are essential for gold mining and extraction, meaning the EU is attacking both the revenue side and the operational capacity of the mining sector.
By blocking the flow of these materials, Brussels seeks to degrade the ability of armed groups to sustain their military campaigns through resource exploitation.
For markets, the ban introduces another layer of supply-side risk to the global gold market.