Boise City Wire

U.S. Senators have urged President Biden to take stronger measures against foreign entities exacerbating the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of Sudanese requiring urgent assistance.

In a letter to President Biden, Senators Jim Risch, Mark Warner, Chris Coons, Todd Young, Cory Booker, and Mike Rounds emphasized the role of external actors in sustaining the conflict. They highlighted that foreign entities from countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia are providing financial support to the warring factions through illicit gold trading.

The senators expressed concern over Sudan's illicit gold trade, which generates significant revenue streams that perpetuate violence and worsen the humanitarian situation. "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," they wrote.

The UAE was identified as a major hub for smuggled Sudanese gold entering global markets. Reports suggest that Emirati companies received over 2,500 tons of illicit African gold worth approximately $115 billion between 2012 and 2022. The senators noted that despite being removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s “gray list” earlier this year, the UAE's gold sector remains susceptible to money laundering.

The letter also mentioned links between smuggled Sudanese gold through the UAE and Russia’s Wagner Group. This connection allegedly supports operations in Africa and Russia's war in Ukraine while undermining international sanctions.

The senators called for more decisive action from President Biden's administration to target business entities and external actors fueling the conflict under existing executive authorities like Executive Order 14098 and the Global Magnitsky Act. They stressed strengthening international coordination to implement investigations into atrocities committed by both sides of the conflict and by external entities.

"We therefore urge your administration to expand efforts by OFAC to fully leverage existing executive authorities and congressionally authorized enforcement mechanisms to hold accountable individuals and entities destabilizing Sudan," they stated.

The letter concluded with a commitment from the senators to work with President Biden in addressing these issues during his final months in office.