Rhino: Agencies – A recent report published by the *Middle East Journal* stated that Sudanese authorities are moving toward concluding a long-term agreement with a Chinese company to develop copper mines in Red Sea State, noting that the deal is part of a broader effort to strengthen economic ties with Beijing amid the international isolation facing Port Sudan due to the war.

The report noted that the proposed agreement is valued at approximately $300 million, granting the Chinese company a 30-year concession in exchange for Sudan receiving a share of the proceeds. The report suggests that this deal could provide an important source of revenue for the Port Sudan authorities amid declining public revenues and the ongoing conflict.

The report added that the agreement comes amid China’s expanding economic presence in Sudan, which includes the mining, infrastructure, and debt restructuring sectors, noting that Beijing seeks to strengthen its influence in the Red Sea region through long-term strategic investments.

The report argues that potential revenues from the copper project could provide the Sudanese Armed Forces with additional economic resources, and it links the project to the growing influence of the Islamic movement within state institutions and the military, noting that the ongoing war has allowed these networks to regain their political and economic presence.

The report also notes that the proposed agreement has drawn criticism from some Sudanese circles, which view its terms as granting extensive privileges to the Chinese side, while neither government has officially confirmed the conclusion of the agreement in its current form.

The report concluded by stating that the project’s success will continue to depend on the stability of the security situation and the government’s ability to attract foreign investment despite the ongoing war, at a time when international competition for Sudan’s mineral resources is intensifying.