Sudan War Economy: Why Global Supply Chains Must Confront Complicity in Conflict
A new UN Human Rights Office report warns that Sudan’s conflict is being sustained by a self-perpetuating “war economy.” By exploiting commodities like gum arabic, warring parties are funding military operations while subjecting millions of civilians to human rights abuses. The UN is now calling for heightened corporate due diligence to disrupt these illicit trade routes.
For three years, the conflict in Sudan has ravaged the nation, but a new UN Human Rights Office report reveals a disturbing reality: the war is being bankrolled by the very resources that should be lifting the country out of poverty. As military costs escalate, warring factions have turned to the exploitation of territory and trade routes, creating a “war economy” that sustains violence. This systemic extraction not only drives internal suffering but exposes global supply chains to grave human rights risks.
The report highlights the trade of gum arabic a ubiquitous ingredient in global soft drinks, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics as a primary case study. Before the fighting erupted in 2023, Sudan supplied nearly 80% of the world’s crude gum arabic. Today, that trade is fragmented, reshaped by territorial control and rampant smuggling. For millions of Sudanese who rely on this industry for survival, the reality is now defined by looting, extortion, and physical threats from armed groups, including the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and associated actors.
The crisis is not contained within Sudan’s borders. Sudanese gum arabic is increasingly redirected through neighboring countries, where it is often re-labelled or processed, obscuring its origins and making ethical verification nearly impossible. This flow of commodities creates a direct link between international consumer markets and the violence on the ground.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has issued a stark warning to the international community: “Companies cannot continue business as usual when sourcing from conflict-affected value chains.” For African businesses and global investors, this necessitates a move toward heightened, conflict-sensitive human rights due diligence. Businesses must go beyond standard audits and exercise deeper scrutiny of intermediaries, documentation, and the logistical routes used to move Sudanese goods.
The impact on local livelihoods is catastrophic. As markets like El-Nuhud are looted and trade routes fragmented, the economic foundation of rural families is being systematically dismantled. This conflict-driven economic fragmentation is, as the report notes, “increasingly self-perpetuating.” By profiting from the chaos, warring parties have less incentive to pursue peace, as the war itself has become the most profitable enterprise available to them.
Looking ahead, disruption of this war economy is essential for any path toward stability. The UN is urging States to bolster regulatory oversight and improve traceability. For companies, the responsibility is clear: they must ensure that their procurement practices do not facilitate human rights abuses or sustain military actors.
This situation is a wake-up call for how the world manages commodities sourced from conflict zones. As the international community considers its next steps, the focus must shift from passive engagement to active accountability. Protecting the rights of those caught in the crossfire depends on severing the economic lifelines that allow these conflicts to persist across the continent and beyond.
