Sudan inks $6 billion port deal with UAE firm

A week ago, Sudan’s ruling military generals signed a “framework agreement” with the country’s main pro-democracy groups and other political forces that could lead to the ouster of a new civilian government and the military.

But the framework agreement provided only a rough outline of how the country expected to return to a democratic path, and was rejected by several major political forces. Further talks on a second, more inclusive agreement are expected soon.

Sudanese Finance Minister Gibreel Ibrahim, who attended the signing ceremony, said the Abu Amama port would include an international airport, an internal road network and a power station, among others.

The site will serve as a “special economic zone” for trade and commerce between the Sudanese government and the two UAE companies. No timetable was provided for the construction of Abu Amama.

The UAE, along with the US, UK and Saudi Arabia, helped broker last week’s framework agreement after facilitating months of cross-party talks. In recent years, the Gulf state has been a major investor in Sudan, an ally of its military generals and a big consumer of Sudanese gold.

Sudan has been plunged into turmoil since the country’s military leader, General Abdul Fattah Burhan, staged a coup in October 2021 that toppled a 30-year-old regime under Omar al-Bashir. Democratic transition after years of authoritarian rule.