The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday said the latter’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is travelling to Uganda on Thursday to engage with the Ugandan authorities and key Sudanese stakeholders based in the country, including civil society, women’s groups and refugees.
Stephane Dujarric, who was briefing the press in New York, said Haavisto is visiting key countries in the region, which have a pivotal role to play in supporting efforts to end the conflict and advance a political solution.
“As regional engagement continues, a new report published today by the UN Human Rights Office underscores another driver of the conflict: the so-called ‘war economy’ that is helping sustain the fighting. The report warns that the warring parties are increasingly profiting from the country’s natural resources and trade,” he said. “The report specifically examines the trade in Gum Arabic, a key ingredient used in products ranging from soft drinks to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as a case study of the adverse human rights impacts of Sudan’s war economy.”
“Gum Arabic remains an important source of income for millions of Sudanese. Yet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that Sudan’s vast natural wealth should be benefiting its people rather than fuelling conflict and suffering,” Dujarric added.
The report points to the role of neighboring and transit States in the onward movement of Sudanese Gum Arabic.
“The High Commissioner urged governments and companies involved in the trade of Sudanese commodities, including Gum Arabic, to take stronger steps to ensure that their business practices do not contribute to human rights abuses or help sustain the conflict,” Dujarric concluded.
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