United Nations: War economy in Sudan prolongs conflict

The UN Human Rights Office warned that the war economy in Sudan is contributing to prolonging the conflict that has lasted for three years.

A UN report released today focused on the gum arabic trade, through which Sudan provided about 70 to 80 percent of global exports before the war, noting that workers in the sector have faced looting, extortion, and arbitrary detention, while the war has reshaped trade routes through smuggling and neighboring countries.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for strengthening accountability, tracing the origin of goods, and tightening control over supply chains, stressing that companies must conduct greater due diligence to ensure their business activities do not contribute to fueling the conflict or violating human rights.