The economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Sierra Leone, Du Zijun, said the government of Sierra Leone requested that the Chinese government help build the port. “The Chinese side will decide on the establishment and implementation of the project after the Sierra Leonean side completes its relevant work,” Du said.
Chinese-language sources provide more details of the deal. They show the intention to build an industrial fishing harbour linking into the West Africa fishery supply chain, rather than a covert scheme to build fishmeal factories.