Key facts
- Sudan's warring factions are profiting from control over the country's resources, sustaining the conflict.
- The UN human rights office (OHCHR) stated the war economy is helping to make the conflict 'increasingly self-perpetuating'.
- The war, which began in April 2023, has killed an estimated 200,000 people and displaced over 11 million.
- OHCHR highlighted the gum arabic trade, where Sudan accounts for 70-80% of global exports, noting looting and extortion within the value chain.
- UN rights chief Volker Türk urged companies to respect human rights when sourcing from conflict-affected value chains.
Sudan's warring factions are exploiting the country's resources to fund their operations, creating a "war economy" that perpetuates the conflict, according to the United Nations human rights office (OHCHR).
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in an estimated 200,000 deaths and displaced over 11 million people, pushing parts of the country into famine.
OHCHR reported that the control and exploitation of territory, trade routes, and commodities are key to funding military operations, making the war increasingly self-sustaining. The UN rights chief, Volker Türk, stated that Sudan's natural wealth should benefit its people, but instead, it is undermining human rights and driving conflict.
A specific focus was placed on the gum arabic trade, a vital export for Sudan, accounting for 70-80% of global crude exports before the war. Despite its importance for millions, those involved in the trade have faced looting, extortion, and threats from conflict parties and their allies. The report cited an incident in May 2025 where the RSF allegedly looted gum arabic stocks in West Kordofan state, disrupting local livelihoods.
Türk urged countries to enhance accountability, traceability, and regulatory oversight, emphasizing that companies cannot continue with business as usual when sourcing from conflict-affected value chains. He called for the disruption of the war economy and greater international attention to the commodities and trade routes that sustain it.