Switzerland has banned the purchase, import and transit of gold originating from Sudan, and restricted the supply of chemicals used to extract the metal, in an effort to cut off a key source of revenue for the country's three-year conflict. The new measures, announced by the Swiss government, also prohibit related financial services and assistance, and block the sale and supply of certain mining goods including mercury and cyanide.
The restrictions bring Switzerland in line with European Union sanctions adopted on July 13, as Western governments intensify efforts to disrupt the gold trade that fuels Sudan's war economy. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rely on gold sales to fund their operations, according to the EU.
What the Swiss measures cover
The Swiss Federal Council added the new restrictions to its existing Ordinance on measures against Sudan, which has been used to implement UN sanctions since 2005 and EU measures since 2023. The ordinance already includes an arms embargo and financial and travel restrictions targeting 36 individuals, entities and companies. Switzerland also maintains due-diligence requirements on imports of gold and other precious metals to prevent trade in conflict resources.
Under the latest changes, Switzerland bans not only direct purchases and imports of Sudanese gold but also its transit through Swiss territory. The sale and supply of certain goods used in mining and extraction — specifically mercury and cyanide — are now prohibited, along with technical assistance, brokering and financial services tied to those goods.
EU sanctions and the conflict backdrop
The European Union established its Sudan sanctions framework in October 2023, several months after fighting erupted between the SAF and RSF in April of that year. The EU has since expanded the regime to target individuals and entities accused of undermining Sudan's stability and political transition. The July 13 measures prohibit the purchase, import and transfer of Sudanese gold, as well as the sale, supply, transfer or export of mercury and cyanide to the country.
Switzerland's government said it remains “extremely concerned” about Sudan's “dire humanitarian situation.” The conflict has displaced millions and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with both sides accused of atrocities.
Gold has become a critical source of wartime revenue for both the SAF and RSF, according to the EU. Sudan is Africa's third-largest gold producer, but much of the output is smuggled out of the country, often ending up in markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland. The new sanctions aim to close that channel.
Key takeaways
- Switzerland bans the purchase, import and transit of Sudanese gold, as well as the supply of mercury and cyanide used in gold extraction.
- The measures align with EU sanctions adopted July 13, targeting both sides of Sudan's civil war.
- Gold sales are a major source of funding for the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
- Switzerland's sanctions regime for Sudan already includes arms embargoes and asset freezes against 36 individuals and entities.
Common questions
Why is Switzerland targeting Sudan's gold trade?
The Swiss government says it wants to cut off a key source of revenue for the warring parties in Sudan's civil war. Gold sales help finance the military operations of both the SAF and RSF, prolonging the conflict and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
What chemicals are restricted under the new sanctions?
Switzerland and the EU have banned the sale, supply, transfer or export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan. Both chemicals are commonly used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The ban also covers related technical assistance, brokering and financial services.
How do the Swiss sanctions relate to existing EU measures?
Switzerland is not an EU member but has chosen to align its sanctions with the bloc. The EU adopted its own restrictions on Sudanese gold and mining chemicals on July 13. Switzerland's new rules bring its ordinance into line with those EU measures.
The latest restrictions add to a growing list of efforts by Western governments to disrupt the gold trade's role in financing conflict. Gold buyers and refiners around the world are increasingly required to conduct due diligence on the origin of the metal. For those tracking the market, the live gold price remains sensitive to geopolitical developments of this kind, though the direct impact on global prices is often limited given Sudan's relatively small share of official production.
The conflict in Sudan shows no sign of resolution, and Western governments are likely to continue tightening economic pressure on both sides by targeting the gold supply chain.