20 May 2025
A collaborative report between Adala center for research and studies and C4ADS. Analytical, data, and imagery support provided by Washington, DC-based global security nonprofit C4ADS.
(Al-Junied and Al-Futtaim Mining Group)
Introduction:
The economic, social, and political transformations in Sudan over the past two decades have been closely tied to the emergence of gold as a resource across vast regions. Organized and artisanal gold mining activities have spread throughout northern and eastern Sudan, as well as in parts of Darfur, Kordofan, and southern Blue Nile. Gold mining, both organized and artisanal, occurs in 14 of Sudan’s 18 states. It has become a primary source of livelihood alongside agriculture and livestock, particularly for communities that have suffered decades of marginalization.
Despite almost one year and six month of war and the cessation of other economic activities, Sudan’s gold exports have seen significant increases. Both conflict parties (Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese government—have turned their focus to gold production. The RSF has ramped up production through Al-Junied Company, while the Sudanese government relies on the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company.
Traditional and artisanal mining, spanning across 14 states, provides a vital source of income for many who lost their livelihoods due to the war. Workers in this sector manually extract and process gold using rudimentary tools like mills and metal detectors. However, such activities have caused significant environmental damage, with adverse effects on the health, social, and economic conditions of local communities.
Sudan’s reliance on gold as a primary foreign currency source became crucial after losing oil revenues following South Sudan’s separation in 2011. This loss stripped Sudan of its most significant resource—oil, which was the backbone of the economy—and gold became one of the main issues that fulling the political conflict in Sudan on local, regional, and international levels. Despite the economic and political significance of gold and its export revenues, an estimated 50% of Sudan’s gold production is smuggled abroad according to official statistics, with miners seeking to sell it in global markets.
During this period, the government encouraged citizens for gold mining. Numerous mines appeared, particularly in Darfur, Northern State, and the Red Sea State. However, driven by the desire for quick profits, military-affiliated and RSF-linked companies have employed environmentally harmful methods in gold production. This has sparked protests and awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of using environmentally damaging materials such as cyanide.
The process of extracting gold using cyanide involves grinding gold-bearing rocks (often mining waste), taking samples to measure the gold content, and preparing large ponds lined with protective layers to prevent leaks. Pipes are installed for filtration, and the mixture of cyanide, lime, and other chemicals is left to ferment. The resultant material is then burned to produce gold with a higher recovery rate compared to traditional mercury-based extraction methods.
Methodology:
This report attempts to provide a comprehensive view of gold mining operations, the role of this resource and its revenues in fueling the emerging war economy following the outbreak of conflict on April 15. It documents these activities with a focus on selected gold mines across Sudan. The report relies on open sources and in-depth, confidential interviews with key individuals residing in the mining areas covered by this documentation.
Objectives:
This report aims to establish a greater role for civil society, particularly non-governmental organizations (both human rights and non-human rights organizations), in developing mechanisms and interventions that contribute to reinforcing sound practices related to monitoring local resources and documenting any violations committed by all parties and entities involved in the extraction and exploitation of resources in an unsustainable manner. This includes the use of unscientific and environmentally unfriendly methods in mineral extraction, as well as smuggling and misappropriation of revenues from local resource exports for non-developmental and non-service purposes. Additionally, this report seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Enhancing monitoring, surveillance, and documentation processes related to violations associated with the unsustainable exploitation of local resources, particularly gold, due to its significant economic importance.
- Developing effective mechanisms and tools to strengthen monitoring, surveillance, and documentation efforts.
- Monitoring foreign companies that assist the Rapid Support Forces in gold extraction.
- Maximizing the role of civil society in policy-making and alternative strategies related to local resource management.
Mapping Mines and Mining Companies: Dominance Alliances and Interest Networks
The mining map and operations areas also includes areas controlled by both conflict parties and their allied militias. Notably, RSF-controlled mining sites hold particular importance due to their expanding geographic interventions, including locations like “Jebel Amer,” which was allocated entirely to these forces during the rule of former President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted by the December Revolution on April 11, 2019.
Gold mining sites under RSF control, along with the substantial wealth and resources accumulated, have significantly influenced the RSF’s political leverage during the transitional period. This leverage has been further solidified since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF on April 15, 2023.
Key and Notable Mines:
Jebel Amer Mine:
Jebel Amer is located in Saraf Omra locality, North Darfur State, more than 100 kilometers northwest of El Fasher, the state capital.
Discovered in mid-2012 by traditional miners, the mine attracted numerous people from various regions in Sudan, as well as miners from neighboring countries such as Central Africa and Chad, who entered Sudan in search of gold. As news of the mine spread, conflicts erupted, particularly between the Rizeigat Aballa tribe, who sought control of the area, and the Beni Hussein tribe. These violent clashes resulted in at least 800 deaths and the displacement of approximately 1,500 people. Following these events, Musa Hilal, the tribal leader and head of the Border Guard/Janajaweed, took control of the mine and exploited its resources. In April 2014, the Ministry of Minerals signed an agreement with “Mam” and “Menas” companies, granting them license for gold mining in Block 15 in the Jebel Amer area of North Darfur State. The agreement was signed on behalf of the ministry by Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Sadiq Al-Karouri and on behalf of Mam Company by its Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Ismail.
According to a Reuters report, the production from Jebel Amer reached approximately 50 tons of gold annually, making it the third-largest gold mine in Africa.
Hemedti Secures Control Over Jebel Amer
In November 2017, the RSF seized control of Jebel Amer after launching a surprise attack on the area of Mistirihah, Musa Hilal’s stronghold, and arrested him. This violent confrontation resulted in the death of RSF commander General Abdul Rahim Jumma Dagalo, Hemedti cousin. Musa Hilal was subsequently taken to Khartoum and remained in detention until he was released in March 2021 as part of a tribal initiative following the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir’s government.
Al-Junied: Tactical Withdrawal and Return to Jebel Amer
On October 28, 2020, Al-Junied Company, through RSF Deputy Commander Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, handed over Jebel Amer Mine to the Sudanese government, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, headed by Dr. Hiba Mohammed Ali.
After the outbreak of the April 15, 2023, war, Al-Junied resumed its mining activities at Jebel Amer due to the absence of oversight from government agencies such as the Ministry of Minerals and the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company.
Songo Mine:
Songo Mine is located in Radom locality, approximately 360 kilometers south of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State. It lies near the borders with Central Africa and South Sudan and was declared a natural reserve in 1981. Key mining areas at Songo include Agbash, Daraba, Suraya, Sarfaya, and Jambana. Mining activities intensified after South Sudan’s separation, with the RSF entering into partnerships with local leaders (notably the Nazir of the Habania tribe) and leveraging military strength to exploit mining waste (“karta”) in collaboration with Al-Futtaim Group under a 15-year partnership agreement valued at $3 million.
Since 2017, Al-Junied has solidified its control over Songo Mine. It forcibly extracted mining waste from local workers, paying them minimal wages. Following Sudan’s December 2018 revolution, the company intensified its activities by forging alliances with local administrative leaders and employees of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company to tighten its grip on mining waste.
After the outbreak of the April 15, 2023, war, Al-Junied increased workers’ wages, restricted leaves, and reinforced security around its sites, deploying RSF units and military vehicles. Traditional miners resumed operations after months of conflict.
In May 2023, RSF forces attacked an army garrison near mining areas, resulting in casualties on both sides. RSF took over the garrison, forcing the army to retreat to the “Muraya” border camp with South Sudan, which was also abandoned later.
To pacify local leaders, Al-Junied resorted to bribery, gifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle to the education sector in Radom locality following protests against the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company and Al-Junied, which monopolized mining waste extraction. Local residents accuse traditional leaders of collaborating with the RSF and prioritizing personal gains over environmental damage caused by cyanide and other harmful chemicals. Radom locality which heavily impacted by mining, is originally a natural reserve.
Talodi Mines:
Talodi locality in South Kordofan State is renowned for gold production, with significant mines such as Meridan, Taqola, and Al-Asabiya. Several companies, including Al-Sunut (affiliated with Sudanese intelligence) and Al-Junied, worked in these mines until late 2019. Their activities ceased following protests from Talodi residents, who burned company facilities due to the use of harmful chemicals such as cyanide, which caused livestock deaths and congenital abnormalities in newborns. After the April 15, 2023, war, the SPLM-N attacked the army’s Taqola mine camp in June 2023, seizing control. This prompted the withdrawal of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company and the Ministry of Minerals. Traditional mining by local communities and small firms continues under the protection of local leaders and administrators.
RSF’s Gold Mining Partners in Darfur:
The RSF collaborates with Al-Futtaim Group in Songo Mine. Al-Futtaim operates under the umbrella of Al-Junied Multi-Activities Company. Their shared headquarters in Khartoum indicates a close partnership, with a source confirming that Al-Qawarta Group sold its shares in Songo Mine to Al-Junied and Al-Futtaim in 2021.
Al-Futtaim has operated discreetly, unknown even to many employees of Al-Junied and the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company, which serves as the Ministry of Minerals’ technical and administrative arm for mining across Sudan.
The Role of Al-Futtaim in Gold Mining Post-War:
- Administrative and Financial Structure:
Al-Futtaim Group, a pioneer in agriculture, mining, and investment, began operations in the 1940s, focusing on agriculture. Over the last two decades, it expanded into engineering, decor, investment, and finance, starting the mining sector in 2014. Its current activities span mining, agriculture, engineering, and financial services.
Before the war, businessman Issa Abdul Monim Issa Taha from Northern State chaired the group. He later shifted to trade between Egypt and Sudan, possibly to safeguard his assets. Taha had ties with the RSF commander, Hemedti, and provided support to Islamist militias fighting alongside the Sudanese army.
Post-April 15, 2023, many of Al-Futtaim’s employees left for Gulf countries. The group holds one mining concession in Northern State (Akasha area), four production sites in various states, four gold extraction plants, 60 machines valued at $12 million, and assets exceeding $50 million and investment potentials exceeding 100 million dollars.
- Internal Operations and RSF Ties:
Al-Futtaim’s agricultural division was registered under Issa Abdul Monim Issa Taha’s name for 80 years, raising questions about why the group relinquished its name for such a critical project.
- Gold Production Continuity:
Al-Junied continues its mining activities in Darfur, particularly in Songo, where there is no oversight. It produces around 90 kilograms of gold monthly, significantly supporting RSF’s war efforts by funding loyalty purchases, soldier recruitment, and arms acquisitions.
Al-Futtaim’s Expansion in Africa:
Following Sudan’s December 2018 revolution, Al-Futtaim expanded its African operations, registering in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 17, 2020, and remaining active. It is 50% owned by Advanced Mining Works Co. Ltd (Sudanese), 25% by Issa Abdul Monim Issa Taha, and 25% by Khidr Osman Khidr Abdul Rahman.
Who is Advanced Mining Works Co. Ltd?
Advanced Mining Works Co. Ltd is an entity under the control of the Sudanese government, specifically the military. According to the latest information available from SudanSCE, the company is 99% owned by Red Rock Mining and 1% by Giad Automotive. Red Rock Mining is a mining and exploration company affiliated with Sudan Master Technology, which was previously sanctioned by the United Kingdom. The company provides funding to the Sudanese Armed Forces and is closely linked to the Defense Industries System (DIS), the economic and manufacturing arm of the Sudanese Armed Forces, which was designated by the United States in July as an entity associated with the warring parties in Sudan.
Al-Futtaim company was involved in a legal dispute with the Environment and Land Court in Migori County, Kenya, over the transfer of ownership of a parcel of land by the Migori County Council. The case was resolved on February 13, 2024, when the court ruled against Al-Futtaim, barring it from accessing or extracting ore or engaging in any mining activities on the disputed land. It appears that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies in the conflict inherited these companies after sidelining individuals loyal to the Sudanese military, particularly as one of the company’s owners had previously expressed support for the Sudanese Armed Forces in the far north of Sudan.
Expansion in Africa
In the same year the company was registered in Kenya, Al-Futtaim was also registered in Niamey, the capital of Niger, on February 4, 2020, and remains active. The company is managed by Issa Mohammed Issa Osman (a Sudanese national), who holds the largest share in the company, alongside Moulay Hassan El Sayed Sidi Mohamed (a Nigerien national).
In 2021, Al-Futtaim Group in Niger exported its first gold shipment to the United Arab Emirates.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding the company’s founders and the similarity in its name and registration dates to the Nairobi company, it appears to be the same Sudanese entity that has begun expanding within Africa, contributing to gold production and export.
Conclusion:
The continuation of mining and gold extraction, along with smuggling or exportation, prolongs the current war in Sudan. Both conflict parties rely on gold resources in their territories. Exploitation and unregulated use of gold revenues risk entrenching political divisions and paving the way for fragmented, authoritarian states controlled by warlords and regional and international interest networks.
Civil society must play a more prominent role in monitoring resource exploitation and advocating against practices that fuel conflict in Sudan.
Recommendations:
- Develop systems to monitor and document resource plundering.
- Track Sudanese smuggled Golde on regional and international scale
- Establish observatories specializing in resource exploitation documentation.
- Organize advocacy campaigns against unsustainable resource practices.
- Publish specialized reports on monitoring and documenting resource exploitation.
Findings and Conclusions:
Based on the information gathered in this report, it leads us to the following conclusions
- RSF continues mining and exporting gold across Darfur.
- The April 15 war enabled RSF to increase production without oversight.
- After the outbreak of April 15 war, the RSF managed to control the gold market in Darfur and border areas with Chad, Central Africa, and South Sudan.
These findings confirm that gold is playing a crucial role in fueling the war as it supported RSF’s ability to sustain the war.
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- المصدر السابق
- المصدر السابق
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- مصدر سابق ، الوثيقة
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- وثيقة خاصة .
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*A report published on Darfur24 as part of a media partnership agreement with
* Photo Source: C4ADS