RismadarVoice Reporters
January 6, 2026
Sudan’s civil war is being indirectly financed by gum arabic, a resin from the Acacia tree widely used in soft drinks, confectionery, cosmetics, and adhesives.
Before fighting erupted in April 2023, Sudan controlled 70-80% of the global gum arabic market. Today, much of the crop is smuggled across borders into Chad, South Sudan, and other neighboring countries, often relabelled to conceal its Sudanese origin.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have exploited this trade, looting stockpiles, controlling supply routes, and taxing traders to fund their war against the government-aligned Sudanese army.
European companies, including French and German firms, are major buyers of raw gum arabic. Despite claims of ethical sourcing, researchers say some of their imports indirectly support the RSF, sustaining the conflict.
The war and illicit trade threaten farmers, tappers, and local communities, turning a once-important livelihood into a dangerous, insecure trade, even as global prices for hashab, the most demanded variety, have more than doubled.
The situation highlights the hidden role of natural resources in funding conflicts and the challenges of ensuring ethical supply chains in conflict zones.
