A recent international investigation has revealed that South Sudan loses an estimated 5,000 kilograms of gold every year through illegal smuggling channels, with most of the gold routed through Uganda to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The report, compiled by the Swiss-based NGO SWISSAID and titled “On the Trail of African Gold,” identifies South Sudan as one of the least transparent countries on the continent regarding artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). It cites nonexistent official records, minimal government oversight, and an entrenched network of illicit cross-border trade.
Despite the country’s potential mineral wealth, authorities in Juba have yet to provide comprehensive data on gold production, and South Sudan remains outside international regulatory frameworks, including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). This lack of oversight continues to deprive the nation of vital revenue in a post-conflict economy striving for recovery and institutional development.
The report also draws parallels with similar findings from a 2021 investigation by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, which documented the role of political and military elites in enabling illegal gold extraction and smuggling.
A more recent case, dating back to February 2025, raised alarms when a UAE-based businessman reportedly exported over 3 kilograms of gold without legal authorization. South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining denied issuing any official permit, describing the act as a violation of the 2012 Mining Act and calling for accountability.
South Sudan’s situation reflects a broader regional trend in East and Central Africa, where gold from conflict-affected areas—including the DRC, Central African Republic, and Sudan—is smuggled across borders before entering international markets, especially in the UAE, one of the world’s largest gold hubs.
SWISSAID is urging African governments to formalize artisanal mining, strengthen regulatory systems, and ensure greater transparency to combat illegal trade and protect the rights of miners.
As global gold demand continues to rise, experts warn that unless action is taken, South Sudan’s untapped wealth will remain a missed opportunity for national development—and a growing advantage for shadow economies.