Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast The fight for gold at the heart of Sudan’s genocide
Nov 10, 2025
Declan Walsh, the Africa Bureau Chief for The New York Times and author on Sudan, shares his insights into the brutal civil war and its connection to gold. He discusses how rebel forces capture cities like el-Fasher, the staggering economic impact of gold smuggling estimated at $16 billion annually, and the power dynamics between the RSF and Sudanese army. Walsh reveals how Commander Hemedti’s rise correlates with gold mines and explores the international implications of foreign powers backing rival factions in this violent conflict.
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Gold Is The Central War Driver
- Sudan's civil war is driven heavily by control of gold, which funds both sides and shapes the conflict's geography.
- The RSF's siege and eventual capture of El Fasher followed a strategy to secure Darfur's gold-rich areas.
Hemeti's Rise From Mine Seizure
- Mohammed "Hemeti" Hamdan built his power and fortune by seizing major gold mines beginning with Jabal Mara in 2017.
- He expanded into a broad business empire and collaborated with actors like Wagner before the full-scale war.
Dubai Is The Hub For Sudan's Gold
- Most Sudanese gold flows through Dubai, with a large portion officially exported and an equal or larger amount smuggled.
- The war has increased gold exports and smuggling, financing both the RSF and the Sudanese military.