This week, millions of people will hand out candy to ghosts, witches and superheroes. But few will know that an ingredient in some of those treats connects their candy bowl to Sudan, where armed groups are profiting from a trade that should support farmers and their families.
It’s called gum arabic, and right now it’s fueling one of the world’s worst conflicts.
What is gum arabic?
Gum arabic is a natural sap collected from acacia trees. It’s used to thicken, stabilize and bind everything from soda and ice cream, medicine, cosmetics and even watercolor paints. You’ll also find it in plenty of the candy in your trick-or-treat bag.
From acacia trees to the front lines
So where does it come from? Mostly from one country. Before the war broke out, Sudan supplied about 70–80% of the world’s crude gum arabic. That’s made it a valuable prize in a war where both sides, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), are scrambling for money.
The trade has become entangled in Sudan’s war economy. Looting, payments demanded along trading routes and smuggling can generate revenue for armed actors. When Sudanese gum arabic is exported through neighboring countries and sold as locally produced, its origins become harder for buyers to verify.
Why this is a major problem
The war has forced nearly 15 million people from their homes, destroyed health care systems, caused widespread hunger and leveled schools across Sudan. Both the RSF and SAF have repeatedly ignored the rules meant to protect civilians, and serious abuses have been documented in the areas they control.
The farmers who harvest gum arabic are among those paying the price. Many live under the control of armed groups, where violence and blocked roads make it dangerous just to get their harvest to market. They’re cut off from fair prices and steady income, while the profits go to the people waging the war. Every sale that passes through armed hands helps keep the fighting going.
So, should you skip the candy?
No. Not all gum arabic comes from conflict zones, and Sudanese farmers rely on this harvest to feed their families. We’re not telling you to stay away from the treats this Halloween.
The priority is to protect those livelihoods and prevent armed actors from profiting. That starts with the world paying a lot more attention to what’s happening in Sudan.
Just remember that the scariest story of the season isn’t made up. It’s going on in Sudan, right now.
