Deep in the savannahs of Sudan Kordofan and Darfur regions, millions of rural families make their living from the acacia tree. They score its bark, collect the sap as it bleeds out, and watch it harden into amber-coloured tears. Once processed into a fine white powder — known in the food industry as additive E414 — this natural product ends up in some of the world most recognisable consumer goods: a can of Coca-Cola, a packet of M and Ms, a bottle of Pepsi, or a sheet of cigarette paper.
Sudan was, until the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, the world dominant exporter of gum arabic, commanding an estimated 70 to 80 percent of global supply. That natural monopoly is now under catastrophic threat — and the conflict itself may be partly sustained by the trade it generates.
The Strategic Commodity
Gum arabic is far more than a food additive. It is an essential emulsifier and stabiliser used in the pharmaceutical, printing and cosmetics industries. Its unique molecular properties make it indispensable for products ranging from soft drink syrups to watercolour paints.
Before the war, Sudan exported approximately 60,000 to 80,000 tonnes of gum arabic annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange. The two largest buyers were the United States and Europe.
War Economy Dynamics
According to traders and analysts, both warring factions — the Sudanese Armed Forces led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — have sought to control and profit from the remaining gum arabic supply chain. RSF-held areas in Darfur and parts of Kordofan have seen fighters and commanders levy informal taxes on traders and farmers.
Several international buyers have reported difficulties sourcing Sudanese gum arabic since 2023, with some turning to alternative suppliers in Chad, Senegal and Nigeria. Prices have risen sharply on international markets.
Every tin of Coca-Cola, every pack of chewing gum, every pharmaceutical pill that uses gum arabic — consumers in the West are unknowingly connected to the economics of this war, one commodity analyst told The Africa Report.
Global Supply Chain Implications
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development warned in a 2024 report that prolonged disruption of Sudan gum arabic exports could create structural supply chain vulnerabilities for global food manufacturers.
Humanitarian organisations tracking the conflict say revenue from wartime control of agricultural trade has helped finance RSF military operations. A 2025 report alleged that RSF commanders established direct control over several key collection and export points in Darfur, using proceeds to purchase weapons and pay fighters.
Farmers Caught in the Middle
For the millions of Sudanese families who depend on acacia tapping for their livelihoods, the war has been devastating. Many farms in conflict zones have been abandoned; others burned or appropriated by armed groups.
A dealer in El-Obeid told The Africa Report that collection had fallen by more than 60 percent since the war began. The trees are still there, but nobody can reach them. The war has killed the season.