UN experts sound alarm on illicit resource flows from South Sudan
The UN Panel of Experts, in a report submitted to the Security Council Committee on South Sudan in July, noted that gold, charcoal and oil were being laundered across the Horn of Africa, with Kenya and Uganda highlighted as major transit routes.
UN experts have warned that neighbouring countries must remain alert to possible smuggling of arms and natural resources from South Sudan, citing rising cases of illicit trade that fuel instability in the region.
The UN Panel of Experts, in a report submitted to the Security Council Committee on South Sudan in July, noted that gold, charcoal and oil were being laundered across the Horn of Africa, with Kenya and Uganda highlighted as major transit routes.
The panel raised concern over fraudulent export documents used to mask the origin of the commodities.
To curb the trend, the panel recommended that the committee formally reach out to states bordering South Sudan and seek detailed assessments of measures they have put in place to screen cargo destined for the country.
This call is in line with the 2018 Security Council resolution 2428, which directed South Sudan’s neighbours to inspect all cargo entering the country through sea and air. The resolution was renewed in 2024 under resolution 2731.
The UN experts stressed that where illegal consignments are detected, states must ensure the goods are destroyed and reports submitted to the committee.
The panel also urged extra caution regarding aeronautical parts that could be repurposed for military helicopters reportedly operating in South Sudan.
Concerns over illicit trade were reinforced by a SwissAid report in May which identified Kenya as a key transit hub for gold from South Sudan and neighbouring countries.
According to the report, “Most, if not all, of the gold extracted in Kenya or imported into the country is exported. Undeclared production from Kenyan ASM [Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining] is smuggled out of the country and reaches mainly the United Arab Emirates, possibly also Uganda and Tanzania.”
The report further stated that Kenya’s declared gold exports remain low despite the scale of mining activities. “They have remained at the three-digit level (eg 672 kg in 2023) and not moved much in the last 10 years (2014-2023),” it added.
By comparison, official records from other countries show gold imports from Kenya consistently surpassing eight tonnes annually since the late 2010s, with 9.65 tonnes recorded in 2023.
Similar findings were documented in the May 2023 report Tarnished Hope – Crime and Corruption in South Sudan’s Gold Sector.
It noted that illicit gold networks extend into the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya and Arua in Uganda, with trade hubs in Nairobi, Kampala and Entebbe playing a critical role in moving gold further downstream.
“Most of these flows, as well as gold smuggled directly out of Juba, are reportedly destined for the UAE,” the report observed.
