A civil society group in eastern Sudan is calling for an immediate halt to foreign mining agreements involving the region’s mineral resources.
The Eastern Sudan Advisory Council urged Burhan’s junta regime on Tuesday to suspend planned copper mining concessions intended for international companies.
According to the council, a government delegation is preparing to travel to China to finalise mining contracts, despite the absence of a functioning national legislative body.
In a statement, the group accused the Ministry of Minerals of negotiating deals over what it described as sovereign national resources without consulting local communities.
Eastern Sudan is rich in copper, cobalt, iron and gold. However, residents continue to face widespread poverty and chronic shortages of clean water.
The council also raised concerns about a lack of transparency, warning that signing new mining agreements during the ongoing conflict could increase tensions and instability in the region.
Activists say environmental, economic and social impact assessments should be completed and made public before any investment projects move forward.
They also warned foreign companies that agreements signed under current conditions could face legal challenges in the future.
The statement comes after media reports of a proposed $300 million mining deal involving Chinese firms.
Under the reported arrangement, Sudan would receive 30 percent of profits after previous financial obligations to Beijing are settled.
