Sudan’s Warring Parties Evade Sanctions via Overseas Business Networks, STPT Report Warns
Published Updated By Regional Desk
Sudan: a new report by the Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker calls on international governments to focus on the commercial networks and overseas partners that sustain the war.
Overview of the STPT Findings
The report, titled Bypassing Sanctions, Sustaining the War Economy, was published in October 2026 and examines the sanctions regime that has been in place since the conflict began in April 2023. It finds that while restrictions have disrupted certain financial and procurement channels, they have not dismantled the broader networks that finance the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
How Sanctions Are Being Circumvented
The assessment identifies gaps in sanctions aimed at SAF‑linked enterprises, noting that the military‑owned Zadna International Company for Investment has redirected much of its activity toward Egypt and Gulf states, positioning itself to profit from post‑war reconstruction.
It also traces how the RSF‑linked Al Junaid conglomerate earns revenue through gold‑trading networks, including routes that move gold from Sudan through South Sudan to the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, the document outlines SAF efforts to obtain alternative weapons suppliers, citing Pakistan as an example, and to develop domestic arms production using imported materials that are more difficult to trace.
Analysis and Recommendations
The authors caution that the mere existence of alternative procurement routes does not, by itself, demonstrate that sanctions prompted these shifts.
The STPT argues that targeting individual companies is insufficient when their subsidiaries, joint ventures and commercial partners remain outside sanctions regimes. It urges governments to coordinate designations, strengthen enforcement and engage regional partners, especially Egypt and Gulf states, to disrupt the networks sustaining the war.
The report concludes that sanctions alone cannot end the conflict and must be incorporated into a broader political strategy that includes stronger regional cooperation and measures to limit harm to civilians.
