KHARTOUM (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 10th May, 2019) The Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the country's paramilitary troops operated by the government, said on Thursday that the gold-carrying plane they had seized earlier belonged to a Moroccan mining company and that it was stopped because it did not receive permission from authorities for the flight, a source in Sudan's Ministry of Mining told Sputnik.
Earlier, the RSF said that they had seized a plane belonging to a foreign company which was trying to smuggle a large amount of gold across Sudanese state lines.
"The airplane which was laden with a lot of gold, belongs to the Moroccan Managem company. It was headed to Khartoum from a deserted area ... to the west of the Nile province. The plane was stopped not because of the contraband, but because it had not received permission to [transport the gold]," the source said.
The source added that prior to the fall of Sudan's former government, mining companies, wishing to transfer products of its operations throughout Sudan, would have to seek permission from the department of economic security. Now the RSF held this position, the source explained.
On April 11, Sudan experienced a military coup following four months of anti-government protests. Sudan's military overthrew and then imprisoned long-time President Omar Bashir. In his place, the Transitional Military Council was established, which pledged to hold a new election within two years. However, rallies have continued across the country, with the opposition alliance demanding that power be immediately transferred to a civilian-led government.
