SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Reuters: Exclusive: Sudan militia leader grew rich by selling gold
Reuters’ investigation reveals that the activities of Al-Junaid Company, owned by Himedti’s family, which sold gold bars worth millions of dollars in Dubai.
Al-Junaid general manager, Abdelrahman al-Bakri, said the firm is owned by Himedti’s brother Abdelrahim, who is also the deputy head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He also denied that Algunade is linked to the RSF.
However, current and former government officials and gold industry sources told Reuters that in 2018, former president Omar al-Bashir gave Himedti free rein to sell Sudan’s gold through Al-Junaid, which allegedly bypassed central bank controls over gold exports.
Despite claims that Al-Junaid would hand over some of its earnings to pay for the government’s wheat and fuel expenses, a senior government official said that Himedti used the gold proceeds to buy weapons and vehicles for the RSF.
Reuters also touch upon Al-Juanid’s usage of toxic cyanide and mercury in its activities.