Sudan’s gum arabic trade has become deeply entangled in the country’s ongoing conflict, according to a new UN report.
The report says the high-value commodity has emerged as an important source of revenue in areas affected by nearly three years of fighting.
Gum arabic, widely used in food, beverages and cosmetics, continues to move through trade routes despite the conflict and humanitarian crisis.
The UN says control of production areas and transport corridors has reshaped the trade, creating economic networks linked to the war.
The report describes widespread disruptions facing workers, including extortion, detentions, looting and restrictions on the movement of goods.
The UN also highlights concerns that smuggling networks obscure the product’s origin before it reaches international markets.
It called on companies to strengthen supply chain checks and improve transparency to reduce the risk of conflict-linked commodities entering global commerce.
