Kenya is playing a central role in the smuggling and resale of gold originating from conflict-affected regions in East and Central Africa, a new report by SwissAid claims.

The report, released in late May, alleges that gold from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Sudan is routinely trafficked through Kenya, with much of it destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly Dubai.

SwissAid says that while Kenya officially exported just 672 kilograms of gold in 2023, the actual outflows may exceed two tonnes annually. Much of the gold, it adds, is never declared before leaving the country.

“Part of the gold that is smuggled out of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and, to a lesser extent, Ethiopia and possibly Sudan, passes through Kenya before being re-exported,” the report states.

Once in Kenya, the gold is reportedly shipped to Dubai, where it is declared for import.

“In other words, one can be confident about the existence of sizeable outbound illicit gold flows because this gold resurfaces further down along the value chain and becomes visible there through official statistics,” the report adds.

SwissAid reviewed trade records and conducted interviews with industry insiders. It found that, in several recent years, gold imports declared by other countries from Kenya exceeded Kenya’s own reported production and imports—suggesting large-scale smuggling operations.

According to the findings, nearly all gold mined or imported into Kenya is eventually exported, with little staying in the domestic market. Undeclared production from Kenya’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector is believed to be a major source of this smuggled gold.

The two licensed medium-scale gold mines in Kenya reportedly ship their output to refineries in South Africa and Switzerland.

The revelations come amid growing concerns over illicit trade routes used by armed groups. Reports have recently emerged suggesting that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) may be using Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to send gold to Dubai.

In response, the Kenyan government has announced plans to establish a dedicated Mining Police Unit. Authorities are also pushing for a regional certification scheme for precious stones and metals, aimed at curbing illicit trade and promoting transparency.