RSF - Sudan's Civil War Funded By Gum Arabic Trade A Key Ingredient In Chocolate Soda And Chewing Gum: Report | Benzinga
The ongoing civil war in Sudan is being financed by the trade of gum arabic, a key ingredient in many consumer goods such as chocolate, soda and chewing gum.
What Happened: Muhamed Jaber, a trader, makes weekly trips to the Sudanese city of El Obeid, transporting gum arabic. He claims to pay around $330 to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused by the U.S. government of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The RSF has controlled access to El Obeid, a major agricultural hub, since June, reported The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
Gum arabic, a tasteless and odorless dried sap, is used as a stabilizer, thickening agent, or emulsifier in many foods, drinks, cosmetics, and medicines. Approximately 80% of the world’s gum arabic is harvested from Sudan’s acacia trees.
The sap has become a significant source of funding for both sides in the ...