DP World, one of the largest ports operators in the world, signed the contract with the Canada-based Dickens & Madson lobbying firm in November.
The $5 million contract, for which $1.5 million was paid upfront, requires Dickens & Madson to lobby Sudan's transitional government for a 20-year concession with the South Port Container Terminal in Port Sudan, the country's main port city which lies on the Red Sea.
The contract also calls on the Montreal-based firm to lobby the Trump administration for a grant to "maintain and develop" the port, according to lobbying filings seen by Al-Monitor.
Dickens & Madson is headed by former-Israel intelligence official Ari Ben-Menashe.
Among Ben-Menashe's controversial list of former clients are former Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe and rogue Libyan general Khalifa Haftar[4].
The lobbyist returned into the spotlight in June last year when it emerged he had entered into a $6 million lobbying deal to clean up the image of feared Sudanese paramilitary leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo[5], widely known by his nickname Hemedti[6].
Read more: Canada lobbyists paid $6m to promote Sudan's ruling military[7]
That deal, which has triggered investigations by Canada and the United Nations, allowed Ben-Menashe to gain connections with Sudanese officials.
Sudan struck a $2.4 billion deal for Port Sudan with a Phillipine port operator that was later scrapped by the transitional government that took charge after the ousting of former dictator Omar al-Bashir in April.
DP World, which is mostly owned by the Emirate of Dubai[8], had sought to operate the port under Bashir.
With Ben-Menashe's help and connections within the Sudanese transitional government, the ports giant now hopes to make headway in securing rights to operate the port.
Ben-Menashe now represents Sudanese interests through the transitional civilian-military council rather than solely through Hemedti, he told Al-Monitor.
The lobbyist says he represents the goal of creating a "Sudanese Union" between Sudan and South Sudan, which gained independence from its northern neighbour in 2011.
"South Sudan has the oil," Ben-Menashe said, "and it cannot be exported, only through Sudan going north."
By developing Port Sudan with a grant from the US government, both countries will be able to increase the flow of good and energy exports, he said.
The eventual hope is to create a European Union-like bond between Khartoum and Juba, Ben-Menashe explained.
Dubai is not the only foreign power to have sought influence on Sudan's Red Sea coast.
Turkey reached a deal with Khartoum in 2017 for the reconstruction and restoration of Suakin island near Port Sudan.
Ankara in April last year confirmed its work with the Sudanese government was ongoing despite the change of hands. Qatar also signed a deal in March last year to develop the Suakin port.
Turkey has continued to refute speculation that Suakin will emerge as a new military base for Ankara as Turkey, Qatar and rival powers in the region Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt vie for influence in the increasingly important Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay connected [9][10]
[1][2][3]References
- ^ Dubai (www.bing.com)
- ^ lobby (www.bing.com)
- ^ Sudan (www.bing.com)
- ^ Khalifa Haftar (www.bing.com)
- ^ Mohammad Hamdan Daglo (www.bing.com)
- ^ Hemedti (www.bing.com)
- ^ Canada lobbyists paid $6m to promote Sudan's ruling military (www.bing.com)
- ^ Dubai (www.bing.com)
- ^ Twitter (www.twitter.com)
- ^ Instagram (www.instagram.com)
Newer articles:
- South Sudan launches US$20 million education project - 09/01/2020 06:48
- South Sudan says unification of armed forces on course - 09/01/2020 05:32
- WFP races to prevent worsening food insecurity in South Sudan - 09/01/2020 02:34
- South Sudan’s main rebel group condemns fresh attack - 09/01/2020 02:14
- U.S. imposes sanctions on South Sudanese vice president Taban Deng Gai - 08/01/2020 10:11
Older news items
- Yei bishop urges total peace in South Sudan - 08/01/2020 02:16
- Food insecure South Sudan banks on oil money for agriculture - 07/01/2020 07:35
- Red Sea Desert Locust Outbreak Threatens South Sudan, Uganda - 07/01/2020 01:24
- Controversy continues regarding South Sudan archbishop appointment - 06/01/2020 14:29
- MADUT: South Sudan needs an honest conversation about its future in the regional bloc - 06/01/2020 05:26
Latest news items (all categories):
- Hope for Christmas gift as South Sudan talks return to Nairobi - 05/12/2024 10:26
- Chinese medical team brings relief to South Sudan patients - 05/12/2024 10:18
- Sudanese bishop speaks about being brutalized by soldiers - 05/12/2024 10:08
- President Biden: Absent Principles - No Honoring Words - Broken Promises - 05/12/2024 09:55
- South Sudan’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Continues – Analysis - 01/12/2024 17:47
Random articles (all categories):
- Child malnutrition rate 'skyrockets' in violence-hit South Sudan, says Doctors Without Borders - 14/07/2014 18:38
- Opening the Pandora Box of SPLM Leaders - 17/06/2009 19:42
- South Sudan: Civilians Seek Refuge After Army's Clash With Rebels - New York Times - 28/01/2013 22:31
- Sudan bombs 3 areas in South Sudan, at least 2 killed, says official (AP) - Haaretz - 23/04/2012 13:20
- Kenya Entangled in Assassination Claims Involving South Sudan Govt - 26/07/2020 08:52
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 58638 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22221 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21370 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18901 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18051 times