Sudan has officially canceled a $6 billion agreement with the United Arab Emirates to develop a Red Sea port, citing UAE support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has fueled the country’s ongoing conflict, announced Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim on Sunday.
The original agreement, signed in December 2022, aimed to have Abu Dhabi Ports and Invictus Investment—a firm managed by Sudanese businessman Osama Daoud—build and operate Abu Amama port, situated around 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of Port Sudan. However, due to alleged backing of RSF forces by the UAE, Ibrahim stated at a news conference in Port Sudan, “After recent events, we are unwilling to grant the UAE a single centimeter along the Red Sea coast.”
This terminated project was part of a broader investment package that also included the development of a free trade zone, an agriculture venture, and a $300 million deposit for Sudan’s central bank.
In response to speculation, Ibrahim, who also leads the Justice and Equality Movement, clarified that he has not resigned as finance minister in response to the recent removal of Sudan’s tax authority head. He remarked, “Our position remains unchanged, though we hold reservations about the direction of executive actions. Reservations are not managed through resignations,” he added.
