Gold mining in Darfur: Its role in the general economy, political conflicts and the current war

Darfur has been shattered by a long chain of violent escalations, and numerous interpretations of reasons and recommendations for solutions have been put forward. Since the early 2010s, gold mining appeared as an additional element in ongoing conflicts and became a dominant aspect, not just as one of the financial pillars of the upcoming Rapid Support Forces under Dagalo family leadership, but also as a source of environmental pollution. Nevertheless, gold mining made its way only slowly into political analyses, and although its substantial role in Sudan's recent history, including the current war, has now more often been recognized, it is often treated only for its broad geopolitical implications. We trace in this essay the development of gold mining in Darfur in more detail, show its impact on existing and new conflicts in the region, and give an outlook on its continuation under conditions of war. Based on our analysis, we also formulate an assessment of long-term consequences of these extractive activities.