Rumours of a US military base and port?

Agig is a small town next to the Red Sea, about 30 miles south of Tokar, Sudan. The Eritrean border is 20 miles further south.

Rumours have circulated - the Americans want to build a port and military base there. This could be useful to prevent smuggling. The route along the Red Sea coast allows weapons to be smuggled into Egypt, and then into the Gaza strip. The US and Israel want to prevent that.

Red Sea State officials and the Agig locality commissioner [or mayor]  have denied the rumours.

Construction is taking place, being described as renovations of army barracks.

UNMIS reports this on page 5 of the daily news report. [pdf]