UAE Expands Ambitious Influence Across Africa Amid Sudan Gold Heist and Regional Rivalries
In April 2023, amid the early days of Sudan's civil war, 1.5 tons of gold bars and jewelry worth $100 million were stolen from Sudan's central bank, government gold refinery in Khartoum, and major commercial banks. Witnesses reported that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group formerly allied with Sudan's army, swiftly smuggled the gold out of the country through Chad and South Sudan. Although the RSF denies involvement, the stolen gold resurfaced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which reportedly flew it into Juba, South Sudan’s capital, using both military cargo and civilian planes.
This incident highlights the UAE’s growing and complex influence in Africa under President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ). Over the past decade, the UAE has rapidly expanded its presence across the continent, investing heavily in ports, agriculture, mining, and energy projects to secure trade routes, resources, and geopolitical leverage beyond oil dependency. The UAE controls or operates ports in 13 African countries through DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports, and has committed over $168 billion in investments since 2017, including wind farms in Egypt, oil refineries in Uganda, and deepwater ports in Senegal.
However, this expansion has sparked concerns about sovereignty and stability. Eritrea’s Information Minister Yamana Gebremeskel criticized the UAE’s "unexplained ambition" to dominate the region, while analysts warn that the UAE’s network of commercial, industrial, and military ties sometimes supports autocratic regimes and armed militias. Research indicates that gold smuggled from Sudan to Dubai helps finance Sudan’s civil war, with some gold linked to RSF-affiliated companies under U.S. sanctions. Meanwhile, weapons reportedly flow back into conflict zones via UAE-controlled routes.
The UAE defends its African policy as fostering trade and investment, emphasizing regulatory frameworks to combat money laundering and ensure transparency. Yet its influence is part of a broader geopolitical shift as Western powers retreat, creating space for middle powers like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, and the UAE to compete for dominance. Turkey, for example, has deepened military and economic ties, while Qatar invests heavily in Rwandan infrastructure. Iran expands trade and ideological networks, and Saudi Arabia focuses on food security and port control.
Israel has also entered the African arena, recognizing Somaliland’s independence in 2025 and partnering with the UAE on projects like a $147 million healthcare initiative in Ghana. Israel’s strengths in technology and infrastructure complement the UAE’s capital and political connections. However, Israel faces challenges from competing regional actors, especially Turkey’s military presence and Iran’s influence.
The UAE’s approach often combines Dubai’s commercial hub role with Abu Dhabi’s security and political strategy, exemplified by the 30-year lease of the strategic port of Berbera in Somaliland, alongside military base access. This dual strategy aims to secure shipping lanes, counter piracy, and contain extremist groups. Despite criticism of imperialistic tendencies, the UAE’s investments address Africa’s massive infrastructure funding gap, welcomed by many governments.
As the UAE’s footprint grows, African elites increasingly relocate wealth to Dubai, which has become a major offshore financial center for African capital. This financial flow reshapes both Africa and the UAE, attracting Western bankers and investors. Analysts caution African leaders to balance benefiting from UAE investments while safeguarding governance and sovereignty. The evolving contest for influence in Africa underscores the continent’s rising global importance and the complex interplay of economic, political, and security interests shaping its future.
