Opposition is growing in eastern Sudan over reports that the government may sign a long-term copper mining agreement with a Chinese company in the Red Sea state. Local political groups, including the Eastern Sudan Advisory Council and the Beja Congress, say Sudan should not commit its natural resources while the war continues and key questions about the country’s future remain unresolved.

The Advisory Council says the minerals minister, Nour El Daem Taha, has traveled to Beijing to sign an agreement granting a Chinese company rights to explore copper in the Red Sea state. It claims the deal would last 30 years and would leave Sudan with only 30% of the profits, with even that share potentially reduced to repay outstanding Chinese debts from future extraction revenue. The council also alleges the agreement’s total value is about $300 million.

The groups call for an immediate freeze on any agreements or negotiations involving the region’s mineral wealth, arguing that no such contracts should proceed without legislative oversight, consultation with traditional community leaders, and conditions that reflect Sudan’s uncertain political situation. They warn foreign companies and investors against entering what they describe as deals lacking full legitimacy, saying such arrangements could create future risks and make investors complicit in exploitation of local resources.

The advisory council also demands transparency, calling for environmental, economic, and social impact assessments before any investment project goes forward. It says communities, independent experts, and professional bodies should be involved, and the results should be published for public review. The group points to past experience in the region’s gold sector, alleging that while resources are exported abroad, local communities bear pollution and serious health consequences.

The Beja Congress says it shares the council’s concerns and will continue pressing for what it describes as full rights for eastern Sudan on political representation, resource distribution, development, identity, and cultural heritage.

The dispute comes as copper is increasingly viewed as a strategically important mineral amid global demand expected to rise with electrification, electric vehicles, and renewable-energy transitions.