The documents .. The Guardian reveals the control of Hamidati and his forces over Sudanese gold and its export to the Emirates

The British Guardian newspaper revealed that the Rapid Support Forces led by Muhammad Hamdan Diqlo, known as Hamidati, control several gold mines in Darfur and other Sudanese regions, noting an Emirati role in importing this gold, which increases the influence of Hamidati and his militia.

On Monday, the newspaper published a lengthy investigation backed by photos and documents, stating that Hamidati has become one of the richest men in Sudan, where the Rapid Support Forces have controlled the Jabal Amer gold mine in Darfur since 2017, and have controlled at least three other mines in South Kordofan and elsewhere, which It makes Hamidaty and his forces key players in the most lucrative industry in Sudan.

The Guardian revealed that Hamidti’s brother, Abd al-Rahim Diqlo, and his sons owned the Al-Junaid Company, which is one of the most important gold exploration companies, and that Abd al-Rahman al-Bakri, Hamidati’s deputy, is the general manager of the company.

The newspaper added that the relationship between Sudanese gold and the wealthy foreigners and the Rapid Support Forces worries observers, as Global Witness, which revealed this relationship, believes that the Rapid Support Forces, with their military forces and financial independence, are a threat to the transfer of power and democracy in Sudan.

The organization referred to bank documents in its possession that demonstrate the financial independence of these forces, through a bank account in the National Bank of Abu Dhabi in the Emirates.

According to the press investigation, the UAE is the largest importer of Sudanese gold in the world, as it imported 99.2% of exports, according to the World Trade Data for 2018.
In this context, the Guardian pointed out that the UAE also contracted the Rapid Support Forces to fight in Yemen and Libya, as it provided funds to these forces.

It is worth noting that Reuters published in late November a report revealing the role of Hamidati and his family in controlling gold, and said that Al-Junaid exceeds the rules of the central bank to export gold and sell it to the central bank itself at a preferential price.