The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on states and companies involved in the gum arabic industry in Sudan to comply with international law, warning that its proceeds could contribute to financing and prolonging the war.
The warning comes as the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces enters its fourth year, after causing the displacement of millions of people and the destruction of large areas of the country.
Sudan is the world’s largest producer of gum arabic, providing about 80% of the global production of this natural substance extracted from acacia trees, which is used in the manufacture of many products, including soft drinks, medicines and cosmetics.
The commission stated in a report that large quantities of gum arabic were transported from areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces and then smuggled to neighboring countries for re-export as local products, making it difficult to trace their origin. The report also indicated that other quantities were transported from areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces to Port Sudan in preparation for export.
The report warned that companies operating in this sector may face human rights risks as a result of supply chains being linked to conflict zones, noting that workers in gum arabic production have been exposed to security threats and widespread looting by parties on both sides of the conflict.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on companies to ensure that their activities do not contribute to human rights abuses or the continuation of conflict by financing combatants with proceeds from smuggled gum arabic, stressing that companies cannot continue business as usual when importing from supply chains affected by conflicts, and urging them to conduct a thorough audit of raw material sources.
The report highlighted an incident that occurred in May 2025, when the Rapid Support Forces reportedly looted the “Gum Arabic Exchange”, its warehouses and parts of the market in the city of Al-Nuhud, causing significant damage to the livelihoods of local residents.
