Tiran and Sanafir islands: Egyptian court voids deal to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

 Egypt's Administrative Court ruled Tuesday that an Egyptian-Saudi border demarcation deal is null and confirmed Egypt's sovereignty over islands Tiran and Sanafir.


The state has the right to appeal the ruling at a higher court, and the accord must also be approved by parliament.

The agreement, which was announced in April, caused uproar and protests in Egypt where many say they were taught at school that Tiran and Sanfir islands were Egyptian.

The ruling is a setback for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who had asked Egyptians in a speech to end to the controversy over the islands deal, which was announced during a visit to Cairo by the Saudi king.

Tiran and Sanafir lie between Saudi Arabia and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, at the narrow entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba leading to Jordan and Israel. Saudi and Egyptian officials say they belong to the kingdom and were only under Egyptian control because Saudi Arabia asked Egypt in 1950 to protect them.
 ahram.org.eg
21/6/16
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