China Told not to 'Invest in Darfur Blood'

A senior presidential assistant in Sudan warned a visiting Chinese official against investing "in Darfur blood."

Minni Minnawi spoke to Liu Guijin, the Chinese envoy to Africa, about Beijing's influence with the government in Khartoum in resolving the ongoing crisis in Darfur, the Sudan Tribune said Wednesday.

"The message I gave to the Chinese is this: Do not invest in Darfur blood,"

Minnawi said.

Minnawi is also a leader in the Sudanese Liberation Army which opposes the Khartoum-backed Janjaweed militia.

Sudan is China's key supplier of oil and the nations share strong military ties. Minnawi admonished the visiting envoy, saying, "I told (Guijin) in no uncertain terms that the Chinese position on Darfur is not a good one and we are not happy about it."

The United Nations recently expressed grave concern over the escalation of the conflict in western Darfur amid new reports of aerial bombings in the region.