Written question asked by Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 February 2026. It was answered by Chris Elmore (Labour) on Thursday, 26 February 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Sudan: Gold

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her United Arab Emirates counterpart on reports of gold originating from Sudan being exported to, processed in and re-exported from the UAE.

Answer: The trade of illicit gold funds conflict, undermines the rule of law, and perpetuates human rights abuses. Gold extraction and smuggling operations represent a significant loss to Sudan and undermine effective resource governance. The UK Government engages with the gold industry, in particular the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the World Gold Council, as well as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to support responsible sourcing and rigorous due diligence standards to enhance resilience to illicit gold and identify malign actors in the supply chain. As an OECD member, we have committed to businesses in the UK applying the OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk areas, including the LBMA. The UK is a global leader in tackling illicit gold flows, recently hosting a joint FCDO-HMRC Gold Conference and launching a public-private partnership with industry to clamp down on illicit flows. We will continue to urge all countries to refrain from actions that prolong the crisis, including those that may financially benefit the warring parties. On 20 July 2023, the UK announced sanctions targeting 13 individuals and businesses linked to the actions of Russia's Wagner Group including alleged involvement in the exploitation of gold resources in Sudan. Sanctions policy remains under review. We do not comment on possible plans for future designations.

Secondary information