Kenya serves as hub for smuggled gold from region, report says

Kenya serves as a transit hub for smuggled gold from other African countries, including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a report by SwissAid, a non-governmental organization.

While illicit outflows from the country likely exceed two tons per year, the amount of declared gold exports was 672 kilograms in 2023, according to the Bern-based organization.

“Kenya acts a transit hub for gold from neighboring nearby countries,” according to report. “The vast majority of the gold that is shipping from Kenya is not declared for export.”

Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Mwaura wasn’t immediately available for comment.

SwissAid noted that legislation was introduced in 2023 to formalize small-scale mining and reduce the illegal gold trade, but has not yet become law.

Most gold smuggled out of Kenya is shipped to Dubai and declared for import there, and other destinations include India and South Africa, it said. The nation may also have become a conduit for gold from Sudan, where a civil war has raged since 2023.

A similar report by the group last year argued that revenue from such trade is fueling conflict, financing criminal and terrorist networks, undermining democracy and facilitating money laundering.

(By Peter Martin)

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