The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) has issued a stark warning about Sudan's deepening crisis, stating that the country's warring factions are profiting from control over natural resources, creating a self-perpetuating conflict that shows no signs of abating. In a report released Wednesday, the OHCHR detailed how both the Sudanese regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rely on exploiting territory, trade routes, and commodities to fund their escalating military operations.
The war, which erupted in April 2023, has already claimed an estimated 200,000 lives and displaced over 11 million people, pushing large parts of the country into severe hunger and famine. The UN report focuses on the trade in gum arabic, a key ingredient in soft drinks, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, for which Sudan accounted for 70-80% of global crude exports before the conflict. Although modest in export value compared to oil or gold, gum arabic remains one of Sudan's most internationally relied-upon exports and a vital income source for millions of Sudanese.
Gum Arabic Trade Under Siege
The report documents widespread abuses linked to the gum arabic trade, including looting, extortion, arbitrary detention, and threats, particularly by the warring parties and their allies. In May 2025, the Gum Arabic Exchange and its warehouses in El-Nuhud, West Kordofan state, were reportedly looted by the RSF when stocks were full and ready for export, severely disrupting local trade and livelihoods. "Sudan's vast wealth of natural resources should benefit its people," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. "Distressingly, what we are seeing today is anything but that. In fact, this wealth is only serving to undermine human rights and drive conflict, bringing pain and suffering on an enormous scale."
Türk urged the international community to pay closer attention to the commodities and trade routes that sustain the war economy. "This war economy must be disrupted," he added, calling on states and corporations involved in the value chain of Sudanese commodities to ensure compliance with international law. The report specifically calls for stronger accountability, traceability, and regulatory oversight to prevent further human rights abuses.
The conflict's self-perpetuating nature is a central concern. As both sides generate revenue from resource control, they have little incentive to negotiate a ceasefire. This dynamic mirrors patterns seen in other resource-rich conflict zones, where the exploitation of commodities like diamonds or oil has prolonged wars. For European readers, the implications are clear: Sudan's instability affects global supply chains, particularly for gum arabic, which is used in products from Coca-Cola to cosmetics. European companies sourcing these commodities must now scrutinize their supply chains to avoid complicity in human rights abuses.
The OHCHR report also highlights the broader humanitarian catastrophe. With over 11 million displaced, the crisis has spilled into neighboring countries, straining resources in Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. The European Union has provided humanitarian aid, but the report suggests that more robust action is needed to address the root causes of the conflict. The UN's call for disruption of the war economy resonates with ongoing European efforts to enforce due diligence laws, such as the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which aims to hold companies accountable for human rights violations in their supply chains.
As the war enters its third year, the international community faces a critical test. Without decisive action to cut off the financial flows that sustain the fighting, Sudan's conflict risks becoming a permanent feature of the region's landscape, with devastating consequences for millions of civilians and global stability.
