China bets on early port and power deals in Sudan to secure post-war economic edge

Lack of leverage by army-backed government in Khartoum may allow Chinese firms to secure favourable investment terms

One expert also said Beijing was using the prospect of future investment as a bilateral incentive to encourage warring parties to cease hostilities.

“Sudan appears to [have] become the next test case for China’s peace-through-development approach,” said Tim Zajontz, interim professor of international relations at the University of Freiburg.

Although many foreign embassies, including that of the United States, suspended operations after fighting began, China maintained diplomatic operations in Port Sudan.