Sudan militia disrupts global gum arabic supply chains

A militia in Sudan, known for committing atrocities, controls a crucial ingredient used in products from Coca-Cola to Danone yogurt. This ingredient, gum arabic, is made from tree sap and is essential for many foods and medicines worldwide. For the past two years, Hisham Salih Yagoub has been struggling to move his shipments of gum arabic through the conflict-ridden country. He receives urgent calls from drivers who must pay the militia to allow their trucks to pass. The paramilitary group, called the Rapid Support Forces, has been accused by the U.S. of genocide during the ongoing civil war. Sudan produces about 70% of the world's supply of gum arabic. Yagoub runs one of the largest suppliers, Afritec. He often pays the militia around $2,500 for each truckload of gum arabic to ensure they reach the port in safety. The conflict in Sudan has displaced millions and resulted in a significant loss of life.