Sudan has vast oil, gold and agricultural resources, but the civil war now in its third year has placed them under the control of rival armed groups.
The conflict pitting the Sudanese army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with more than 9.5 million people forced from their homes across the 18 states and millions facing starvation.
Sudan possesses large natural resources including oil, gold and agricultural land that could feed its people, but fighting and shifting control of these assets make that impossible.
Who controls what in Sudan?
The army holds much of the north and east, including the capital Khartoum, other key cities along the Nile and the strategic Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
The RSF has consolidated grip on the western Darfur region after capturing el-Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, on 26 October, having besieged it for nearly 18 months.
What are Sudan’s main exports?
Three sectors dominate: oil, gold and agricultural products.
In 2023 Sudan’s exports worth $5.09bn were led by crude oil ($1.13bn), gold ($1.03bn), animal products ($902m), oilseeds ($709m, of which $613m was sesame) and gum arabic ($141m).
Sudan remains the world’s largest exporter of sesame seeds and gum arabic, used as a stabiliser and emulsifier by the global food and beverage industry and in pharmaceuticals, supplements and cosmetics.
Who controls Sudan’s agricultural resources?
The country’s geography is shaped largely by the Nile River, which floods annually and waters agricultural lands.
The White Nile meets the Blue Nile in Khartoum and continues northwards into Egypt as the Nile.
About 51.4% of Sudan is covered in grazing land, mostly across the southern part of the country ending roughly at Khartoum.
These grazing lands or rangelands are prized for supporting herding and animal husbandry – control is divided roughly equally between the army and RSF.
The northern sector of rangeland is known as the gum arabic belt where acacia trees that produce the valuable resin grow.
Croplands are concentrated mainly between the Blue and White Niles in Gezira state, an area controlled by the armed forces.
Who controls Sudan’s petroleum?
Oil exports remain Sudan’s primary revenue source.
Production rose from 200,000 barrels per day in 2001 to nearly 500,000bpd by 2010 before collapsing in 2011 when South Sudan seceded and took 75% of reserves.
By 2023 output had fallen to 70,000bpd, according to the United States Energy Information Administration.
Crude oil was still one of Sudan’s top exports that year at $1.13bn, making the country the world’s 40th-largest crude exporter.
Top buyers were Malaysia ($468m), Italy ($299m), Germany ($125m), China ($105m), Singapore ($80.3m) and India ($51.4m).
As of 2024 Sudan’s oil reserves stood at 1.25 billion barrels while natural gas reserves were 3 trillion cubic feet, though the country produces and consumes little gas.
Most oilfields lie in the south near the South Sudan border and many are currently under RSF control.
Five refineries operate in central and northern regions. The largest, the Khartoum refinery with 100,000bpd capacity, was held by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) as of late January 2025. The army also controls the smaller Port Sudan refinery.
Pipelines run from southern fields to Bashayer export terminal south of Port Sudan; the el-Obeid to Port Sudan line remains mostly under army control.
Who controls Sudan’s gold?
Sudan ranks among Africa’s leading gold producers with deposits across the northeast, centre and south.
Eastern deposits are mostly controlled by the Sudanese army while central and southwestern goldfields fall largely under RSF control.
Much gold comes from artisanal and small-scale mining that employs hundreds of thousands but operates largely outside government regulation.
Since fighting began in 2023, control of mines and trade routes has become a critical funding source for both sides.
Local news agencies reported in July that gold production surged to 64 tonnes in 2024, up 53% from 41.8 tonnes in 2022, generating $1.57bn in legal export revenue. Black-market trade continues unchecked.
The United Arab Emirates bought more than 99% of the $1.03bn in Sudanese gold exports recorded in 2023.
Who are Sudan’s main trading partners?
Some 80% of exports go to Asia, 11% to Europe and 8.5% to Africa.
In 2023 the UAE was the top partner, importing $1.09bn or 21% of total exports, almost entirely gold. China followed with $882m (17%), mainly vegetable products.
Saudi Arabia imported $802m (16%) mostly livestock; Malaysia $470m (9%) mainly crude petroleum; and Egypt $387m (7.6%) of mixed goods.
These five countries account for more than two-thirds of Sudan’s exports.
Sudan at a glance
Sudan is Africa’s third-largest country at about 1.9 million sq km.
Population in 2024 stood at 50.5 million, concentrated along the Nile and in urban centres. Greater Khartoum has about seven million people while Nyala in South Darfur has almost 1.15 million.
Other main cities include el-Obeid (560,000), Port Sudan (547,000), Kassala (411,000), Gadarif (364,000), el-Daein (265,000), el-Fasher (253,000), ad-Damazin (186,000), Geneina (163,000), Gereida (120,000) and Atbara (108,000).
