Abdallah, a press attache at Sudan's permanent mission at the United Nations, said what's being called slavery is really the ''abduction of children'' by warring tribes, and the government is trying to stop it. The massive influx of Western capital is money upfront for the Sudanese regime,'' said Jesse Sage, associate director of the American Anti-Slavery Group, which is leading a divestment campaign against companies such as Canada's Talisman that do business in Sudan. The Comptroller of New York City, whose employee fund invests in Talisman, recently sent a strongly worded letter of concern about it doing business there. Sudanese spokesman Abdallah said all the money will be used for ''infrastructure,'' such as telecommunications. But critics point to a story in April by the French wire service Agence France Presse that quoted Sudanese leader Hassan al Turabi as saying that oil revenues will be used to finance new factories to produce tanks and missiles.
Observers also worry about a strategic alliance forming between China and Sudan.
A story from Sudan's news service, Suna, said China's ambassador to Sudan vowed to oppose possible U.N. sanctions on the country, and that Sudan supports China's ''one China'' policy with Taiwan. Some worry that China might even be paying Sudan for oil partly with weapons. Dennis Bennett, an economist who runs the ViTrade Web site, which is critical of Sudan, and has been on several relief missions to Sudan, said he's seen Chinese writing on tanks and artillery shells captured from Sudan's government. CNPC did not answer numerous queries about its proposed NYSE listing. Kevin Butler assisted with research.