Indy Standard

U.S. Senators, including Todd Young and Mark Warner, have urged President Biden to take stronger action against foreign entities contributing to the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis since it began in April 2023. It is estimated that tens of thousands, potentially over one hundred thousand people, have died due to the violence.

The senators emphasized the role of illicit gold trading in financing the conflict. They stated, "We are deeply concerned that Sudan’s illicit gold trade enables lucrative revenue streams that perpetuate the documented atrocities and worsens the devastating humanitarian crisis in the country." The RSF controls major gold mines in Sudan, and its leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has established dominance over this trade.

The letter highlighted the involvement of foreign countries such as the UAE in smuggling Sudanese gold into global markets. "The UAE is a major hub for smuggled Sudanese gold entering global markets," they noted. Reports suggest links between this smuggled gold and Russia's Wagner Group, which uses these funds for operations in Africa and Ukraine.

The senators called for more decisive actions by OFAC under existing executive authorities to hold accountable those destabilizing Sudan. They also stressed strengthening international coordination for investigations into atrocities committed during the conflict.

The letter concluded with an appeal for enhanced U.S. efforts to address both the humanitarian crisis and external actors fueling it.