Sudan’s commodity chains under strain: how gold and gum arabic flows have become central to the conflict economy

Article Body

Lead

This analysis explains why international agencies, journalists and regional regulators have focused on two Sudanese commodities, gold and gum arabic, and their role in sustaining armed conflict. It sets out what happened, who was involved, and why the issue drew public and regulatory scrutiny: convoys, trading networks and export routes for both commodities kept operating amid political collapse; elements of Sudan's commercial and military networks took part in procurement and sales; and international monitors and UN bodies signalled that proceeds from these trades were feeding the conflict economy. The attention followed field reports, sanctions screening and trade data anomalies that prompted investigations, media coverage and calls for tighter export controls and supply-chain due diligence.

Background and timeline

Since the large-scale fighting that began in 2023, Sudan's formal institutions have fragmented, with competing military and paramilitary actors controlling territory and revenue sources. Gold has long been a high-value export from fields in the east and centre of the country. Gum arabic, a tree-sourced stabiliser used in food, beverages and cosmetics, is harvested across parts of Sudan and exported in processed form. Over the past three years, reports showed both commodities moving through irregular channels: artisanal mining sites sold gold via intermediaries linked to regional traders; gum arabic harvests were taxed or requisitioned by armed actors; and export documents showed shipments continuing while customs oversight weakened. International bodies and investigative outlets documented trade patterns that matched known supply routes and shifts in control of production zones.

Sequence of events (factual narrative)

• Pre-conflict: Sudan exported gold and gum arabic through established commercial traders and state-regulated channels, with customs oversight and taxation systems.
• Escalation: As fighting intensified, state institutions lost consistent control in several regions; local actors and armed groups began levying taxes, brokering sales or securing harvests and sites.
• Trade continuity: Despite insecurity, collection and movement of both commodities persisted, sometimes via alternative land routes or through neighbouring borders, enabling ongoing external sales.
• External scrutiny: UN agencies, regional bodies and media flagged atypical trade flows and links between revenue streams and the logistics needs of armed actors, prompting calls for investigations and supplier due diligence.
• Regulatory response: Some importers and multinational buyers announced enhanced screening, while diplomatic channels discussed targeted measures to reduce the likelihood that commodity proceeds finance violence.

Stakeholder positions

• United Nations and international monitors: Raised concerns that commodity-linked revenues were contributing to armed conflict, and called for investigations and stronger supply-chain transparency.
• Regional governments and trade partners: Expressed interest in preventing illicit flows while balancing trade continuity and humanitarian access; some conducted confidential screening of consignments and traders.
• Private sector buyers and processors: Some companies tightened procurement policies and demanded traceability for gum arabic and gold; others faced practical challenges verifying origins in insecure contexts.
• Local administrators, traders and producers in Sudan: Reported disruptions, new transaction costs and pressure from armed actors; many communities saw reduced bargaining power and diminished services.

What Is Established

• Gold and gum arabic are legitimate Sudanese export commodities with established international markets in jewellery, food processing, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
• Armed conflict and institutional breakdown in parts of Sudan have coincided with altered production and trade patterns for these commodities.
• International agencies and news reporting have documented trade flows and flagged the potential for revenues from these commodities to be diverted to armed actors.
• Some buyers and intermediaries have begun applying enhanced due diligence and traceability requirements in response to these concerns.

What Remains Contested

• The precise share of export revenue from gold and gum arabic that directly finances armed actors remains under investigation and subject to evidentiary verification.
• The extent to which traders, exporters and receiving companies knowingly engaged with illicit supply chains versus being unwitting participants is disputed and depends on case-by-case proof.
• Attributing specific shipments to particular armed groups or state-aligned entities is often uncertain because intermediaries are opaque and documentation has gaps.
• The effectiveness and proportionality of proposed regulatory responses, including sanctions, import restrictions or certification schemes, are debated among policymakers and industry actors.

Institutional and Governance Dynamics

The analysis should focus on systemic incentives and institutional design: weakened customs and regulatory oversight, fragmented territorial control, and high-value, low-volume commodities create an environment where rents can be captured by non-state actors and local powerbrokers. Traders and buyers face reputational and legal risks, while producers and harvesters confront coercive extraction and lost income. Reform options, such as improved traceability mechanisms, regional coordination on customs enforcement and industry-led certification schemes, must contend with capacity constraints, political fragmentation and the need to preserve legitimate trade routes that sustain livelihoods and humanitarian supplies.

Regional context

Sudan's role as a supplier of gold and gum arabic matters to neighbouring markets and global value chains. Disruptions ripple through regional trade corridors, affect commodity prices and test downstream firms' compliance systems. The situation also exposes gaps in cross-border governance: customs cooperation, financial transparency and shared investigative mechanisms are uneven across the region. Any policy response should combine diplomatic engagement, capacity-building for regulatory institutions and practical incentives for private-sector compliance.

Forward-looking analysis and policy options

Practical responses fall into three overlapping areas: (1) immediate mitigation to reduce direct financing opportunities for armed actors, such as targeted sanctions, customs screening and importer risk assessments; (2) medium-term reforms to strengthen institutional capacity and transparency, including better land- and production-level recordkeeping, licensing and conflict-sensitive procurement practices; and (3) socioeconomic measures to protect producers and communities, such as alternative livelihood support, transparent revenue-sharing mechanisms and community-based certification for gum arabic cooperatives and artisanal mining groups. Each option carries trade-offs: heavy-handed restrictions risk harming legitimate actors and markets, while voluntary industry measures require incentives and verification to scale. Regional cooperation and donor support will be important to ensure interventions are feasible and proportionate.

Practical implications for stakeholders

• Buyers and processors should map supply chains, require documentary proof of origin and invest in third-party verification where feasible.
• Regional regulators and customs authorities need to prioritise coordinated intelligence-sharing and harmonised documentation standards to detect anomalies.
• Donors and multilateral bodies can support capacity-building for traceability systems and community resilience programs to reduce coercion at production sites.
• Media and civil society play a continued role in documenting flows and holding actors accountable, while remaining mindful of security and sourcing risks when reporting.

Conclusion

The link between commodity markets and conflict in Sudan shows how legitimate exports can become tied to wartime revenue when governance weakens. Tackling the problem requires measures that are technically sound, politically aware and sensitive to livelihoods. Policymakers should pursue targeted, evidence-based steps that cut off financing channels for armed actors without unduly disrupting legitimate trade or harming vulnerable communities.

Sudan's commodity-linked conflict highlights a recurring governance challenge in the region: high-value natural products can sustain local economies but also create incentives for armed actors where state capacity is weak. Addressing these dynamics in Africa usually requires a mix of stronger institutions, regional cooperation, private-sector accountability and social protections to safeguard legitimate trade and reduce the risk that economic activity funds violence.