Bangladesh, July 20 -- As Sudans devastating civil war stretches into its second year, a sinister transformation has occurred in the nations economy. Once hailed for its mineral potential, Sudans gold has become the engine of destruction, transforming from a national asset into a transnational weapon. Each gram of extracted gold now powers a war that has displaced nearly 9 million people, decimated Sudans institutions, and plunged its society into chaos.

Prior to the eruption of full-scale conflict in April 2023, Sudan officially produced around 87 tonnes of gold annually, making it one of Africas top producers. But within just five months of fighting, that figure collapsed to a mere 2 tonnes. This dramatic decline in official production...