Gold smuggling finances ADF insurgency in eastern DRC

An investigation by The Sentry reveals that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an ISIL-linked militia, is increasingly self-funding its operations through illicit gold smuggling, cocoa production, extortion, and kidnappings. The report, titled ‘Gold-Backed Brutality: The ADF’s Conflict Gold Trade’, indicates that these localized revenue streams have reduced the group's dependence on external ISIL financial transfers, even following 2024 US sanctions.

Researchers identified gold extracted from mines under ADF control as a primary revenue source. Much of this gold is allegedly smuggled into Uganda before reaching international markets, including the United Arab Emirates. In the Manguredjipa area alone, gold mines are estimated to generate between $1 million and $1.6 million annually for the group.

Beyond mineral wealth, the ADF utilizes kidnappings to secure both ransom payments and forced labor for recruitment. The report suggests that joint military operations between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have merely displaced the militia into other gold-rich zones rather than eliminating them. The Sentry has called on the United Nations, United States, United Kingdom, and European Union to investigate these gold-trading networks.