United Nations: Gum Arabic Trade Is Fueling Sudan’s War

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday called on governments, companies, and all stakeholders involved in Sudan’s gum arabic industry to comply with international law, warning that profits generated from the sector are contributing to the continuation of the country’s civil war.

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now in its fourth year, has displaced millions of people and devastated large parts of the country.

Sudan produces approximately 80% of the world’s gum arabic.

Gum arabic is a natural substance extracted from acacia trees and is widely used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickening agent in a broad range of products, including soft drinks, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

According to a UN report, large quantities of gum arabic have been transported from areas controlled by the RSF and smuggled through neighboring transit countries, where they are exported as locally produced goods, making their origin difficult to trace.

The report added that shipments of gum arabic have also been transported from areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces to Port Sudan for export.

It further warned that companies operating in the sector may face human rights risks linked to the ongoing conflict.

Part of Sudan’s gum arabic production comes from conflict-affected areas, where the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights found that workers have faced threats to their safety and widespread looting by entities associated with both sides of the conflict.

Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged companies to ensure that their operations do not contribute to human rights abuses or prolong the conflict.

“The companies cannot continue business as usual when sourcing from conflict-affected value chains,” Türk said, calling on businesses to carry out due diligence regarding the origin of their raw materials.

The report also highlighted an incident in May 2025, when the RSF reportedly looted the Gum Arabic Exchange, its warehouses, and parts of the broader market in En Nahud, severely affecting the livelihoods of local communities.