Sudan: Gum Arabic Second Only to Gold in Financing Sudan's War - Expert

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing a Radio Dabanga report by Suleiman Siri, says the UN human rights office has warned that Sudan’s wartime economy is prolonging the conflict by tying armed actors to control of natural resources and trade corridors. The OHCHR report uses gum arabic as a case study, noting the commodity’s role in global supply chains for products including soft drinks, cosmetics and medicines, and urging parties to the war, states and companies involved in the trade to comply with international law.

Dr Abdelmonem Mukhtar, executive director of the Centre for Evidence and Data-Based Policy, told Radio Dabanga that gum arabic is a meaningful but secondary source of conflict financing compared with gold. He said gold provides more direct liquidity for military funding and smuggling, while gum arabic offers supporting revenue within the broader war economy. Before the war, Sudan supplied about 70% to 80% of the world’s raw gum arabic exports, according to the report.

The article says the gum arabic trade has been altered since fighting began in April 2023, with some supplies from Sudanese Armed Forces-controlled areas moving through Port Sudan and larger quantities from Rapid Support Forces-held areas allegedly diverted via cross-border smuggling routes. Mukhtar cited UN-reported looting of at least 3,700 tonnes between January and June 2024, and said rerouting and relabelling can obscure Sudanese origin.

The report highlights legal, ethical and reputational risks for importing states and companies if supply chains help finance abuses. Mukhtar recommended stronger tracking from production to export, tighter customs and financial controls, digital registries, supply-chain audits, scrutiny of intermediaries and transport routes, and suspension of purchases where credible links to looting or armed-group financing are found.