Kenya, Uganda named key transit hubs in South Sudan smuggling networks – UN report
The findings echo those of the May 2023 SwissAid African Gold Report, which described Kenya as a key link in the movement of gold from South Sudan and neighbouring states.
The United Nations has urged countries bordering South Sudan to intensify their monitoring of trade and cargo routes, warning that smuggling of gold, charcoal and oil continues to thrive through neighbouring states.
In its July submission to the Security Council Committee on South Sudan, the UN Panel of Experts highlighted how illegal consignments are being moved across the Horn of Africa, with Kenya and Uganda emerging as central transit corridors.
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The panel, as reported by The Star, pointed out that forged export documents are being used to disguise the movement of these resources.
The experts proposed that the committee formally contact South Sudan’s neighbours to provide reports on steps they have taken to inspect shipments headed to the country.
The request follows Security Council resolution 2428 of 2018, which directed that all cargo destined for South Sudan by sea or air must be inspected under both domestic and international law.
This directive was renewed in 2024 through resolution 2731.
According to the resolution, goods deemed to be unlawful should be destroyed, and the actions reported back to the Security Council.
The panel also cautioned against the unregulated supply of aircraft parts that could be repurposed for military helicopters currently known to operate in South Sudan.
The findings echo those of the May 2023 SwissAid African Gold Report, which described Kenya as a key link in the movement of gold from South Sudan and neighbouring states.
“Most, if not all, of the gold extracted in Kenya or imported into the country is exported. Undeclared production from Kenyan ASM [Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining] is smuggled out of the country and reaches mainly the United Arab Emirates, possibly also Uganda and Tanzania,” the report read.
SwissAid observed that Kenya’s declared gold exports are far below the actual scale of trade. “They have remained at the three-digit level (eg 672 kg in 2023) and not moved much in the last 10 years (2014-2023),” the report added.
By contrast, official records from other countries consistently show imports from Kenya above eight tonnes a year since the late 2010s, with 9.65 tonnes recorded in 2023.
These revelations align with the Tarnished Hope – Crime and Corruption in South Sudan’s Gold Sector report of May 2023, which traced illicit networks spreading beyond South Sudan’s borders.
The report named Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya and Arua in Uganda as important points in smuggling chains.
The UN panel insists that unless tighter checks are enforced by South Sudan’s neighbours, these smuggling routes will continue to undermine stability and accountability in the region.
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