Looted gold and gum arabic are bankrolling Sudan’s war, UN warns
Looted gold and gum arabic are bankrolling Sudan’s war, UN warns
Qinilo.com – The ongoing conflict in Sudan is being fueled by two key resources: gold and gum arabic. While gold is a major source of revenue, the latter—a lesser-known commodity—has also become a critical driver of the war effort. Gum arabic, utilized in beverages, food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, is being systematically exploited by warring factions.
OHCHR issued a report highlighting how armed groups have seized gum arabic supplies and rerouted them through smuggling channels to sustain the conflict. This has turned the resource into a tool for financial gain rather than a means of livelihood for millions.
“Sudan’s vast natural resources should serve its people. Yet, the reality today is the opposite: this wealth is being used to erode human rights and prolong violence, causing immense suffering,” stated Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR spokesperson.
Commodity trade and human rights abuses
Traders dependent on gum arabic face severe risks, including arbitrary detention, looting, and extortion. The commodity’s economic role has made it a target for exploitation, with its flow now heavily influenced by conflict zones. Harvesting occurs in areas where humanitarian and human rights violations have been documented.
Smuggling routes stretch across Chad, South Sudan, Kenya, Libya, and Egypt. These corridors facilitate the movement of gum arabic from conflict-affected regions to international markets, often bypassing formal checkpoints.
Impact on livelihoods
Approximately five million Sudanese rely on gum arabic for income. Before the war, the country dominated global exports, accounting for 70 to 80 percent of crude gum arabic. Annual sales reached up to $183 million, underscoring its economic significance.
Following the collapse of Sudan’s civilian transition in April 2023, the war has disrupted traditional production hubs. The so-called “gum belt” regions, such as Kordofan and Darfur, now see their resources redirected to support the conflict. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been implicated in looting stocks from El-Nuhud in West Kordofan and rerouting them westward to Darfur and Chad in May 2025.
Gold as a key revenue stream
Gold remains a major income source for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF. In 2024, SAF-controlled areas produced 65 tonnes of gold, with 28 tonnes officially exported via Port Sudan. These exports were valued at around $1.6 billion, or 48.5 percent of Sudan’s total exports.
However, nearly half of Sudan’s 2024 gold output—approximately 48 percent—was smuggled out of the country. The RSF-controlled regions lack production data, but the report suggests their involvement in looting has further exacerbated the crisis.
According to OHCHR, warring parties have used looted gum arabic as compensation for fighters when wages are insufficient. Between January and June 2024, an estimated 3,700 tonnes of gum arabic were seized, with some redirected to South Sudan and onward to Mombasa, Kenya.
Alternative smuggling paths have emerged, including routes through Chad to Cameroon’s Douala port. Gum arabic is often relabeled at these cross-border points before being sold internationally.
Security Council-appointed experts previously documented how RSF looting of gum arabic has become a financial lifeline for the conflict. The resource’s exploitation underscores the intersection of economic activity and human rights abuses, with the war economy showing no signs of slowing down.