Khartoum : The New Democratic Forces Movement (Haq), affiliated with the “Freedom and Change” coalition, on Thursday accused the Sudanese authorities of selling the “Al-Hawad” agricultural project, in the Red Sea state in the east of the country, to the UAE.
Her office in the state said, "The military sold the agricultural project, which is the largest in Sudan and Africa, under the direct supervision of its supreme leadership and in anticipation of time, before the formation of the expected transitional government."
And she indicated that "the government procedures are proceeding to allocate (Al-Hawad) to the UAE."
The project extends over vast areas in four states, including the Nile River (north) of the country, Kassala and Gedaref (east) in addition to the capital, Khartoum. It is expected, at a later stage, to reach the states of the Red Sea, Sennar and the island.
The Haq statement pointed out that the project, since 2011, has been moving between the files of the government of ousted President Omar al-Bashir and before it was controlled by army generals in the period after the October 25, 2021 coup.
Secret understandings
He referred to "secret understandings that took place between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi, through Al Dahra Company, by aides and military leaders in 2022, according to which the Emiratis were given preliminary approval to invest in the project." In the second half of last January, the Council of Ministers approved the integrated development law for the “Al-Hawad” project, according to which a governor was appointed for the project, as the latter submitted the project law to the designated cabinet.
The aim of the application, according to (Haq), is to "accelerate the pace of legal procedures and overcome obstacles in front of Emirati investors," noting that they "requested to allocate the project for the purpose of agricultural and productive investment with long terms that are legally protected."
It called for disclosure of the concluded contracts and confirmed its initiation to form a body to protect national resources
She added that "legal procedures were not made possible by following official channels with regard to allocating the project to the Emirati company, such as addressing land offices in the states or state ministries of agriculture, but rather government approval and signing of it preceded all legal procedures."
She pointed out that “the Emirati side, according to a secret deal with the Sudanese government, has the right to determine markets, whether they are foreign or local,” pointing out that “the integrated development law approved by the cabinet-designate in mid-January last allows the Emirati company to market products, whether it is local or externally throughout the period of the agreement and that it has the right to store, transport or market the production according to its desire without interference from the Sudanese side.
And she stressed that "the project is controlled by the UAE alone, through an alliance with the military with a civilian facade of businessmen," pointing to "the understandings that the military made with Abu Dhabi, which include huge economic partnerships that included the establishment of the (Abu Tama) port overlooking the Red Sea and agricultural projects (Al-Hawad project). ) and linking it entirely through a regional military-economic alliance with a civilian interface.”
She indicated that “after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the rise in food prices, the UAE decided to revive its investment hopes in Sudan, whose resources are still raw and untapped.”
She pointed out that "the deals with the UAE took place in light of the turbulent conditions in Sudan, the absence of active state institutions, the control of a costly coup government that faces overwhelming popular rejection, and a political process that is being negotiated according to international and regional mechanisms." And she indicated that "the economic decision is being made at the present time only within the military system in its various economic institutions."
And she added, “The UAE claims that it intends, through the project, to produce one million tons of wheat annually in the first phase,” adding: “This is an apparent trend, but there are major concerns about turning the project into a fodder depot for the Gulf countries and Europe.”
According to (Haq), “With the global food shortage and the fears and concerns of food security in Sudan, fears are escalating that this project will be transformed into a fodder depot, like what happened in the Nile River state in the north of the country, and that vast agricultural areas, some of which are irrigated by Nile water and groundwater, will be converted into projects.” To export fodder to some Gulf countries.
While confirming the rejection of the project, she pointed to "concerns about its impact on the Butana region and other areas rich in livestock and the movement of herdsmen, because the project will not allow herdsmen to pass through the usual paths."
"fortified castle"
She added, "The project, in the current and secret way in which the procedures between the government and the Emirates proceed, will be like a fortified castle that the locals see on the heights, and they get nothing from it."
The movement called on the authorities to "disclose the details of the project and the contracts concluded in a transparent manner," noting that "it has begun to form a national authority to protect national resources, which will include national experts in all fields to protect the country's wealth."
It is noteworthy that the "Haq" movement is one of the components of the "Freedom and Change" coalition, which announced last month its accession to the framework agreement, weeks after it was signed by other components of the coalition, political organizations and armed movements with the military.
The agreement, signed on the fifth of last December, provided for the removal of the military from power and handing it over to civilians during a two-year transitional period that ends with elections.
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