What have the Chinese ever done for Sudan?

After the 1989 military coup, the new president of Sudan, Omar Bashir, declared that Sudan would "eat what we produce and wear what we manufacture".

How times change. A visitor to Khartoum today would be surprised by the prominence of Chinese script on trucks and buses zooming through the capital's streets.

The visitor would also be surprised to hear that China has financed the majority of Sudan's recent capital projects in the infrastructure, power and construction sectors.

Put simply, China has played a huge part in building modern-day Sudan.

But these projects, financed by loans coupled with grants, will aggravate a longstanding financial crisis in Sudan, especially as none of them addresses the people's day-to-day concerns such as education, health and food.

To return to Bashir's pledge, Sudan's textile industry has collapsed since he took power. So too has its sugar industry, for example, which can no longer supply Sudan's demand. So much for the Sudanese eating what the they grow and wearing what they produce.

Poverty rates are skyrocketing, government debt is sky high thanks to loans - but at least Sudan gets a new bridge every now and then.

Poverty rates are skyrocketing, government debt is sky high thanks to the loans policy, the economy is collapsing and education is deteriorating - but at least Sudan gets a new bridge every now and then.

Despite all the dams and the generator projects, power cuts continue and have put many factories out of business.

So what should be prioritised? Education, agriculture and health, or bridges which did not add and will not add any value to the people?

Wasn't the government supposed to spend money on the railways instead of bridges? Wasn't it supposed to invest in major agricultural projects in al-Jazira and al-Rad, for example, instead of taking loans?

Have rumours on Sudan becoming a Chinese state become true, at a time Sudan's loans are piling up to form a bridge towards more poverty?

This is an edited translation of the original Arabic.

Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of al-Araby al-Jadeed, its editorial board or staff.