How War in Sudan Turns Coca-Cola's Key Ingredient into a Smuggling Commodity

The ongoing conflict in Sudan is disrupting the global supply of gum arabic, a critical ingredient in a wide array of consumer products from Coca-Cola to M&M's, as trafficking of the commodity increases.

The civil war, pitting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the national army since April 2023, has destabilized Sudan's gum arabic industry, which accounts for approximately 80% of the world's supply. The RSF seized control of key gum-producing regions in Kordofan and Darfur last year, leading to a surge in clandestine trading practices. Sudanese traders are reportedly paying fees to the RSF to market the product, which is then smuggled into neighbouring countries without proper certification.

This lack of oversight presents significant challenges for Western companies seeking to ensure conflict-free sourcing. The rise in trafficking means that traders from Chad, Senegal, Egypt, and South Sudan are offering gum at reduced prices, often without adhering to ethical and sustainable standards. This uncertain provenance is raising concerns among multinational corporations that rely on this ingredient.

Herve Canevet, a marketing specialist at Eco-Agri, a Singapore-based supplier, has acknowledged the difficulties in tracing the gum's origins, as many traders are hesitant to disclose if their product has been smuggled. While the Association for International Promotion of Gums (AIPG) has stated they have not found direct links between the gum supply chain and warring factions, industry sources suggest the illicit trade poses a risk to the procurement systems of global ingredient manufacturers.

Faced with these challenges, companies like Ingredion and Nexira have begun diversifying their sourcing, including exploring options in countries like Cameroon. These companies are committed to maintaining legitimate supply chain transactions, despite the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Mohammed Hussein Sorge, the founder of Unity Arabic Gum, reports being offered gum from Senegal and Chad in December at significantly lower prices, but without the required Sedex certification.

Suspecting the gum was stolen or smuggled from RSF-controlled territories, Sorge declined the purchase. Sorge himself fled to Egypt in 2023 after the RSF seized his gum supply and remains wary of the conflict-impacted trade. Reports indicate that the RSF has banned exports of certain goods, including gum arabic, to Egypt. However, unofficial traders continue to offer gum, often below market prices and without certification, with transactions allegedly carried out under RSF protection in exchange for fees.

The civil war has disrupted traditional gum sorting and shipping routes, with gum now frequently sold in informal markets along the borders with South Sudan and the Central African Republic. These markets operate under RSF protection, facilitating the sale of gum collected from Sudanese landowners to traders from neighbouring countries.