An investigative report by Dr. Ibrahim Al-Siddiq Ali has highlighted a significant discrepancy in Sudan’s strategic gold sector.
The findings point to a wide gap between officially recorded gold production and documented export figures.
Over a four-year period, Sudan is reported to have produced more than 199 tons of high-grade gold across various domestic mining operations.
However, Central Bank export data for the same period shows that legal gold exports did not exceed 88 tons. This leaves a discrepancy of more than 111 tons of gold unaccounted for in official records.
At current market estimates, the missing bullion represents approximately $18 billion in lost national revenue.
The report notes that these figures only reflect gold that entered official production statistics, excluding unregulated artisanal mining, which is believed to make up a substantial share of Sudan’s total output.
It also does not account for gold reportedly taken directly from remote and unstable mining areas.
The findings raise broader concerns about governance, accountability and the management of one of Sudan’s most valuable natural resources.
