Sudan’s gold production surged to 64 tonnes in 2024, marking a 53% rise from 2022 and generating $1.57 billion in exports.
The figures were announced by Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) Director Mohamed Tahir Omer during a press briefing in Cairo this week.
Gold has become Sudan’s economic backbone as the 27-month civil war cripples traditional revenue streams and plunges the nation into deeper instability. Omer projected an additional 37 tonnes of gold by mid-2025, expected to yield over 403 billion Sudanese pounds in state revenue.
Mining’s workforce share has jumped from 5% to 40%, positioning the sector as a potential driver of recovery, according to SMRC. Yet, nearly half of Sudan’s gold is smuggled out—mainly via South Sudan and the Central African Republic—robbing the treasury of vital income.
Analysts from Chatham House and Swissaid estimate Sudan’s true gold output at 80 tonnes annually—worth over $6 billion. This gap between official revenues and actual output highlights the government’s shrinking grip on the country’s mineral wealth.
As conflict uproots millions and famine looms, gold remains both Sudan’s economic lifeline and a driver of its humanitarian crisis.
