Official Calls for Tight Control of Gum and Fight against Mafia

Sudan Events – Rehab Abdullah

A government official has criticized leaving the Gum Arabic commodity to individuals and traders to control it, even though it is a strategic commodity.
In his interview with Sudan Events, the official stressed the need for the state to control Gum Arabic, gold, oilseeds, and cotton because they are subject to smuggling, in addition to being goods that Sudan has preferential advantages and can tip the trade balance in favor of the state.
He confirmed the possibility of Sudan controlling the price of Gum Arabic in the world, considering that it is the largest producer because it owns 80% of the Gum Arabic production in the world, but he pointed out that the Gum Arabic commodity faces corruption and smuggling operations to Chad and Central Africa. It is controlled by a mafia and lobbies that are difficult for the state to penetrate and fight. He justified this because they often have connections to people in the state.
He pointed out the need for the state to develop a solid plan to control gum, noting its importance because it is the only commodity that the United States has exempted from the ban, because it is used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries and the soft drinks Cola and Pepsi.
He deplored the fact that France had become the largest exporter of Gum Arabic in the world because of its smuggling from Sudan.
The official said that the Government of Sudan had three government companies that supported the state treasury and financed the general budget: “The Gum Arabic Company, the Sudan Oilseeds Company, and the Sudan Cotton Company,” adding that the Gum Arabic Company was a public joint-stock company that had a monopoly on the export of Gum Arabic from Sudan, and the Cotton Company had a monopoly on the export of cotton. While the monopoly on oilseeds was not complete, they exported large quantities, and it was confirmed that these companies represented the pillar of the Sudanese economy and supplied the state treasury with hard currencies.
He pointed out that the Gum Arabic Company was exposed to corruption operations during the days of the Ingaz Government, and this caused its collapse, as well as cotton and oilseeds. He regretted the collapse of huge government institutions that were bringing in amounts in foreign currency to Sudan. He pointed out that some of the employees of the Gum Arabic Company established companies after its collapse and became exporters through their relationships. .