Published • loading... • Updated
Sudan's war economy fuelling 'self-perpetuating' conflict, UN human rights office says
The UN says profits from gum arabic and other commodities are helping finance Sudan’s war and exposing traders to looting and extortion.
- On Wednesday, the United Nations warned that Sudan's gum arabic industry helps sustain the country's civil war, with an OHCHR report describing a "war economy" where factions exploit commodities to fund military operations.
- Sudan produces around 80% of the world's gum arabic, while the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has killed 200,000 people and displaced upwards of 11 million since April 2023.
- In May 2025, the RSF reportedly looted the Gum Arabic Exchange and warehouses in El-Nuhud, West Kordofan, seizing export stocks and disrupting local livelihoods. Looting and extortion threaten workers throughout the trade.
- Significant quantities of gum arabic from RSF-controlled areas are smuggled to neighbouring countries, obscuring origins, while the Sudanese Armed Forces transport other stocks to Port Sudan for export, complicating supply chain accountability.
- UN rights chief Volker Turk urged global companies to strengthen traceability and oversight, warning that "companies cannot continue business as usual when sourcing from conflict-affected value chains" as profits fuel the crisis.
Insights by Ground AI
23 Articles
23 Articles
UN warns Sudan gum arabic trade helps sustain civil war
The United Nations human rights office on Wednesday called on states, businesses and parties linked to Sudan's globally-relevant gum arabic industry to uphold international law, warning that profits from the sector are helping sustain the country's civil war.
·London, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Conflict actors in the Sudan benefit from the control of several types of resources in the country, paving the way for a "war economy" that has helped to prolong the crisis for more than three years, warns on Wednesday a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
·Montreal, Canada
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left2Leaning Right5Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
15%
C 46%
R 39%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
