Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrives in Addis Ababa for official visit

EU expands sanctions against Sudan, targets gold trade to cut war funding

The Council of the European Union has expanded its sanctions against Sudan, banning the import of Sudanese gold and restricting the export of key mining chemicals like mercury and cyanide. These measures aim to cut off revenue streams financing the country's civil war, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Gold has become a major funding source for the conflict, and limiting its trade, along with access to mining chemicals, is intended to reduce financial resources for those driving the violence. The sanctions include exemptions for humanitarian operations, public health emergencies, or disaster response. This action follows the EU's establishment of a sanctions framework for Sudan in October 2023, which has been expanded several times, most recently in January 2026. The conflict has displaced over 14 million people and led to widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reiterated the bloc's call for an immediate ceasefire and warned against external actors fueling the conflict, stating the EU would use all available tools, including additional sanctions, to pressure those sustaining the war.