EU bans gold imports from Sudan and restricts mining chemicals exports

The European Union has imposed a ban on gold imports from Sudan as part of efforts to cut off funding that sustains the country's ongoing conflict. The measures also restrict the export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan, two chemicals commonly used in gold mining operations. The move is designed to limit the financial resources available to warring parties who profit from Sudan's gold trade. By targeting both the import of gold and the supply of key mining inputs, the EU aims to apply economic pressure on those fuelling the war.