New Report Links Kenya to Gold Smuggling From Sudan and DRC

Kenya has become a key hub for smuggling and resale of gold sourced from South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a recent report by SwissAid.

Over the past decade, Kenya’s role in the illicit gold trade has expanded significantly, with much of the gold eventually destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly Dubai.

The report reveals that illicit gold outflows from Kenya likely exceed two tons annually, despite official records showing only 672 kilograms of declared gold exports in 2023.

This large discrepancy points to widespread undeclared gold crossing Kenya’s borders, facilitating smuggling networks that undermine regional mineral governance, Kenyan media reported.

While Kenya plays a central role in this illicit trade, the broader East African context is important. Both Uganda and Rwanda—countries often accused of exploiting mineral resources from DR Congo—also list gold among their leading exports.

Like Kenya, Uganda grapples with challenges related to illegal artisanal mining and smuggling, which drain government revenue and destabilise local communities.

SwissAid’s findings show that a significant share of gold smuggled out of South Sudan, DR Congo, and to a lesser extent Ethiopia and Sudan, passes through Kenya before being re-exported.

“Most of the gold that is smuggled out of Kenya is shipped to Dubai and declared for import there,” the report says.

The presence of this gold in official import statistics abroad confirms the existence of sizeable illicit flows.

The report also notes an unusual pattern since 2019: declared gold exports from Kenya to other countries exceed Kenya’s official production and declared imports.

This suggests that Kenya not only exports smuggled gold but is also a recipient of illicit inflows, further complicating efforts to regulate the trade.

Within Kenya, most of the gold mined or imported eventually leaves the country. “Undeclared production from Kenyan artisanal and small-scale miners is smuggled out mainly to the UAE, possibly also to Uganda and Tanzania,” the report adds. Kenya’s two licensed medium-scale mines avoid this illicit network by sending their gold to refiners in South Africa and Switzerland.

The smuggling networks intersect with broader regional conflicts and challenges. Reports have surfaced of secret gold transactions involving Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with Sudanese gold reportedly transported through Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport en route to Dubai.

These developments illustrate how Kenya’s role as a transit hub is deeply embedded in a complex web of regional politics and illicit trade.

In response to the growing gold smuggling, Kenya is set to establish a specialised Mining Police Unit and is pushing for regional certification of gems and minerals.

These moves aim to strengthen regulation and curb the illegal trade that costs the country and its neighbours millions in lost revenue.

As Kenya works to control its role in the regional gold smuggling network, the issue highlights the pressing need for coordinated East African cooperation.

Uganda and Rwanda’s own challenges with mineral exploitation and smuggling add urgency to regional solutions that ensure mineral wealth benefits local communities rather than illicit actors.