Tiran and Sanafir islands Saudi-Egyptian deal void. Egypt's government can still appeal the decision.

Egypt's Administrative Court ruled Tuesday that a recent Egyptian-Saudi border demarcation agreement which placed the two Egyptian Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi waters is void, adding that the two islands should remain under Egyptian sovereignty.

The agreement,  which was signed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia on 8 April during a five-day visit by Saudi King Salman to Cairo, stipulated that the two islands in the southern entrance of the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba fall within Saudi waters, thus paving the way for a transfer of sovereignty to Riyadh.

Egyptian rights lawyer Khaled Ali and a number of other lawyers had filed a lawsuit with Egypt's Administrative Court at the State Council arguing that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Al had wrongfully waived Egyptian sovereignty rights over the two islands.

• The government can still appeal the decision.

The deal sparked widespread street protests during which dozens of demonstrators were arrested and put on trial.

Egypt's House of Representatives had not yet discussed or ratified the agreement.

However, the Saudi Shura Council approved the deal on 25 April and the Saudi cabinet followed suit on 2 May.
 [ahram.org.eg]
21/6/16
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