The Swiss Federal Council has adopted new sanctions targeting trade in gold originating in Sudan, aligning Switzerland with measures introduced by the European Union in July 2026. The amendments to the Ordinance on Measures against Sudan entered into force on 10 September 2026.

The new measures prohibit the purchase, import and transit of gold originating in Sudan. They also extend to the provision of services and financial assistance connected with such gold. In addition, the sale and supply to Sudan of certain chemicals used in gold mining and extraction are prohibited.

The measures are intended to restrict trade in gold as an important conflict resource in the ongoing war in Sudan. They supplement Switzerland’s existing sanctions regime, which already includes an arms embargo as well as targeted financial and travel sanctions against currently 36 individuals, entities and companies.

The existing sanctions framework consists of both UN and autonomous EU measures. The UN sanctions regime, established by Security Council Resolutions 1556 (2004) and 1591 (2005), focuses primarily on the conflict in Darfur and comprises an arms embargo, as well as an asset freeze and travel ban targeting persons and entities designated by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee.

The EU has supplemented these measures with its own sanctions regime since 2023, imposing asset freezes and travel restrictions on persons and entities responsible for undermining Sudan’s stability and political transition. In July 2026, the EU further expanded this regime to Sudan’s war economy by prohibiting the purchase, import or transfer of Sudanese gold and the sale, supply, transfer or export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan, including related technical, brokering and financial assistance. The EU expressly aims to restrict revenues sustaining the conflict.

Switzerland has implemented both the UN sanctions since 2005 and, since 2023, has also adopted the additional measures imposed by the EU. The latest amendment continues this approach by bringing the Swiss regime into line with the EU’s July 2026 restrictions on Sudanese gold.

In its press release, the Federal Council also notes that strict due diligence requirements already apply to imports of gold and other precious metals into Switzerland, including measures intended to prevent trade in conflict resources. The new sanctions now add specific prohibitions applicable to Sudanese gold and related transactions.