Sudan's Security and Defense Council has ordered the removal of all army personnel and regular security forces from the country's gold mining areas.
The directive also mandates the confiscation of weapons within these zones, marking a significant shift in the governance of the sector that has long been intertwined with the nation's ongoing conflict.
The move comes as international scrutiny on Sudan's gold trade intensifies.
The European Union previously imposed a comprehensive ban on the purchase, import, and transfer of gold from Sudan, aiming to cut off a critical funding stream for the civil war that has devastated the country since April 2023.
Brussels also restricted the export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan, targeting the materials essential for gold extraction.
By clearing mining areas of armed presence, Khartoum appears to be attempting to formalize control over the sector, though the practical enforcement of such a ban remains uncertain given the fragmented security landscape.