“Dubai’s Gold Empire Fuels Sudan’s Deadliest Militia”
A new report by The Sentry has uncovered a secret financial empire enabling Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to wage a devastating war while bypassing international sanctions — with Dubai at the heart of the operation.
According to the 17-page investigation, at least 16 companies were established in the UAE by Sudanese and Emirati businessmen, spanning gold trading, logistics, and consultancy. Several of these firms were directly linked to RSF financing and procurement of military equipment, exploiting loopholes in the global financial system.
For the first time, the report names Mazin Fadlalla as a central figure. In 2019, he purchased around 200 Toyota pickup trucks later converted into “technicals” — the militia’s hallmark combat vehicles. He also co-owned four Dubai-based gold companies, including Mamlaket Kush and Al Zumoroud & Al Yaqoot, exposing the pipeline through which conflict gold from Darfur is laundered into international markets.
The report further implicates Emirati businessman Naser Al Hammadi, who led Capital Tap Holding until 2024. The group, sanctioned by the US Treasury, is accused of funneling both funds and equipment to the RSF. After its transfer to Sudanese national Abozer Habib, Capital Tap expanded into South Sudan contracts and sensitive procurement through subsidiaries such as Horizon and Natwest Logistics.
Another surprising revelation is the involvement of Essa Al Marri, an Emirati national linked to multiple gold and logistics firms, including Blaze Gold and Glow Gold, both dissolved in early 2025 after being flagged for laundering Sudanese conflict gold.
The Sentry warns that while several of these entities have been sanctioned or shut down, the individuals behind them retain the capacity to establish new fronts to bypass restrictions. It urges expanded sanctions targeting Fadlalla and investigations into still-active firms like Aoun Commercial Brokers.
