Looted gold and gum arabic are bankrolling Sudan’s war, UN warns

(UN News) Alongside gold, the little-known Sudanese commodity gum arabic – used in soft drinks, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – continues to fuel the war. In an alert on Wednesday, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, highlighted how the country’s warring parties have looted gum arabic and redrawn trading routes so that they can use the proceeds to perpetuate the conflict. “Sudan’s vast wealth of natural resources should benefit its people. Distressingly, what we are seeing today is anything but that,” said OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. “This wealth is only serving to undermine human rights and drive conflict, bringing pain and suffering on an enormous scale.” – Looted gold and gum arabic are bankrolling Sudan’s war, UN warns | UN News