Sudan central bank, state miner firm create gold export oversight panel

A central bank statement issued after Sunday’s meeting in Port Sudan says the panel will “coordinate export operations, improve monitoring and support the national economy.” It gives no implementation timetable.

Central bank governor Amna Mirghani and SMRC head Mohamed Taher signed the agreement, according to the statement.

Sudan produced 70.15 tonnes of gold in 2025, the bank says, adding that output is limited to six of the 14 states that were active before war broke out in April 2023. The figure excludes volumes mined in areas controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur or the SPLM-North faction led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, the statement says.

Official data show that most Sudanese gold comes from artisanal miners, who number about 2 million. Commercial plants often reprocess the miners’ tailings using cyanide to recover residual metal.

Bank and company officials say large quantities of gold are smuggled out of the country because the authorities have been unable to track artisanal production.

The statement says the two sides also discussed export incentives and possible consultations with industry stakeholders. Mirghani describes the move as part of efforts to shift the banking system “from resilience to recovery,” while Taher says the SMRC will deploy its state-level staff to help the central bank tighten controls.