The fighting in Sudan has created big problems for the food and makeup industries. Rebel soldiers grabbed land where most of the world's gum Arabic comes from. This special tree sap helps mix things together in many everyday products, such as sodas, candy, lipstick, and pet food.
Armed fighters called the Rapid Support Forces took over key farming areas last year. They make local traders pay fees to sell the raw material. The gum then travels across borders without proper paperwork, according to people who work in this business. Some traders secretly move it through unofficial border markets.
When asked about these claims, someone speaking for the rebel forces denied any wrongdoing. They said they protected the gum trade and only collected small fees. The armed group recently set up their very government in areas they control, making it harder to track what happens with valuable resources.
People selling gum from countries near Sudan have started offering unusually cheap prices. Traders from Chad and Senegal contacted buyers with suspicious deals. Egypt and South Sudan, places that barely exported gum before, suddenly have plenty available. Most buyers can't tell where it really came from.
Herve Canevet, who works for a Singapore company selling food ingredients, believes nearly all gum leaving Sudan these days travels illegally. An industry group claimed in January they saw no connection between the gum supply chain and fighting forces, but many insiders disagree with that statement.
Major companies face serious risks when buying gum-Arabic ingredients. Big manufacturers like Nexira, Alland & Robert, and Ingredion purchase refined versions of the amber-colored substance. They turn it into food additives sold to famous brands that make everyday products we all use.
Ingredion told reporters it tries hard to keep its business legitimate. After the war began, it started buying from other countries like Cameroon. Nexira cut back its purchases from Sudan and found ten new supplier countries. Other big corporations declined to comment or didn't respond when contacted.
One businessman from Sudan's capital said traders offered him gum at extremely low prices. Mohammed Hussein Sorge, who ran Unity Arabic Gum before fleeing the country, received messages about deals that seemed too good to be true. The sellers wanted just $3,500 per ton for high-quality gum that normally costs over $5,000.
These sellers couldn't provide certification papers proving ethical standards had been met. Sorge refused to buy because he suspected the gum had been stolen or smuggled out through rebel networks. Messages shared with reporters showed persistent attempts to sell him shipments, even after he left Sudan when armed men took his entire inventory.
Since October, rebel forces have banned sending certain goods to Egypt, including gum Arabic. They claimed this was because Egyptian planes attacked them. The rebels say they stopped what they call smuggling because it didn't benefit their country. But questionable traders keep trying to move products across borders.
Another buyer received messages offering "cleaned" gum ready for shipping. The price was suspiciously low at $1,950 per ton instead of the expected $3,000. Different traders mentioned trucks crossing borders into neighboring countries. None could provide proper certification documents, making buyers nervous about the true source.
Before the war, gum traveled through Sudan's capital for sorting, then moved to Port Sudan for shipping worldwide through the Suez Canal. The system worked well and was relatively transparent. That changed dramatically after rebel forces seized control of production regions.
Unofficial markets appeared along the border between West Kordofan province and South Sudan. Local collectors gather gum from landowners and sell it to South Sudanese traders for American dollars. Armed guards protect these transactions after receiving payment from traders involved in the deals.
Abdallah Mohamed owns acacia trees from which gum Arabic is derived. He confirmed that rebel forces charge traders protection fees. The armed group expanded beyond fighting into various businesses, including gold, livestock, farming, and banking operations throughout the areas it controlled.
South Sudan's Information Minister said his government takes no responsibility for gum passing through their territory. People buying large quantities report seeing shipments move through Kenya and South Sudan's capital. The situation keeps changing as traders find new routes.
Even online marketplaces show evidence of stolen goods. Isam Siddig fled Sudan carrying just three suitcases of gum samples. He later discovered his warehouse products for sale on Facebook, still packaged with his company branding. This happened after armed fighters raided his storage facilities when he escaped the country.
Armed fighters called the Rapid Support Forces took over key farming areas last year. They make local traders pay fees to sell the raw material. The gum then travels across borders without proper paperwork, according to people who work in this business. Some traders secretly move it through unofficial border markets.
When asked about these claims, someone speaking for the rebel forces denied any wrongdoing. They said they protected the gum trade and only collected small fees. The armed group recently set up their very government in areas they control, making it harder to track what happens with valuable resources.
People selling gum from countries near Sudan have started offering unusually cheap prices. Traders from Chad and Senegal contacted buyers with suspicious deals. Egypt and South Sudan, places that barely exported gum before, suddenly have plenty available. Most buyers can't tell where it really came from.
Herve Canevet, who works for a Singapore company selling food ingredients, believes nearly all gum leaving Sudan these days travels illegally. An industry group claimed in January they saw no connection between the gum supply chain and fighting forces, but many insiders disagree with that statement.
Major companies face serious risks when buying gum-Arabic ingredients. Big manufacturers like Nexira, Alland & Robert, and Ingredion purchase refined versions of the amber-colored substance. They turn it into food additives sold to famous brands that make everyday products we all use.
Ingredion told reporters it tries hard to keep its business legitimate. After the war began, it started buying from other countries like Cameroon. Nexira cut back its purchases from Sudan and found ten new supplier countries. Other big corporations declined to comment or didn't respond when contacted.
One businessman from Sudan's capital said traders offered him gum at extremely low prices. Mohammed Hussein Sorge, who ran Unity Arabic Gum before fleeing the country, received messages about deals that seemed too good to be true. The sellers wanted just $3,500 per ton for high-quality gum that normally costs over $5,000.
These sellers couldn't provide certification papers proving ethical standards had been met. Sorge refused to buy because he suspected the gum had been stolen or smuggled out through rebel networks. Messages shared with reporters showed persistent attempts to sell him shipments, even after he left Sudan when armed men took his entire inventory.
Since October, rebel forces have banned sending certain goods to Egypt, including gum Arabic. They claimed this was because Egyptian planes attacked them. The rebels say they stopped what they call smuggling because it didn't benefit their country. But questionable traders keep trying to move products across borders.
Another buyer received messages offering "cleaned" gum ready for shipping. The price was suspiciously low at $1,950 per ton instead of the expected $3,000. Different traders mentioned trucks crossing borders into neighboring countries. None could provide proper certification documents, making buyers nervous about the true source.
Before the war, gum traveled through Sudan's capital for sorting, then moved to Port Sudan for shipping worldwide through the Suez Canal. The system worked well and was relatively transparent. That changed dramatically after rebel forces seized control of production regions.
Unofficial markets appeared along the border between West Kordofan province and South Sudan. Local collectors gather gum from landowners and sell it to South Sudanese traders for American dollars. Armed guards protect these transactions after receiving payment from traders involved in the deals.
Abdallah Mohamed owns acacia trees from which gum Arabic is derived. He confirmed that rebel forces charge traders protection fees. The armed group expanded beyond fighting into various businesses, including gold, livestock, farming, and banking operations throughout the areas it controlled.
South Sudan's Information Minister said his government takes no responsibility for gum passing through their territory. People buying large quantities report seeing shipments move through Kenya and South Sudan's capital. The situation keeps changing as traders find new routes.
Even online marketplaces show evidence of stolen goods. Isam Siddig fled Sudan carrying just three suitcases of gum samples. He later discovered his warehouse products for sale on Facebook, still packaged with his company branding. This happened after armed fighters raided his storage facilities when he escaped the country.
