Alain Goetz's gold trading network thrives despite US sanctions

AFP: Agence France-Presse (AFP) is an international news agency that supplies text, photographs, video, and graphics to media organizations worldwide. AFP is credited as the source and distributor of Alexis Huguet’s image used with the Bloomberg investigation. Alain Goetz: Alain Goetz is a gold trader associated with the African Gold Refinery, which the United States sanctioned over alleged links to gold networks that helped finance armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Bloomberg’s investigation reports that companies and intermediaries connected to his former operations continue exporting gold through Uganda to the United Arab Emirates despite those sanctions. Alexis Huguet: Alexis Huguet is a photojournalist whose work is distributed through AFP, documenting conflict, politics, and humanitarian issues in Africa. His photograph is credited in the Bloomberg report about the sanctioned gold trader’s network. Sanctions: The African Gold Refinery and Alain Goetz were sanctioned by the United States over alleged support for networks connected to armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Trade Route: The reported network moves gold from Africa through Uganda to the United Arab Emirates, illustrating how sanctions can leave commercially important intermediaries and logistics channels intact. Corporate Network: Bloomberg’s analysis of corporate filings, customs records, and trade data indicates that Thaba Investments uses some intermediaries, suppliers, trade corridors, and logistics providers previously associated with the sanctioned refinery.