Egyptian President Agrees to Cede 2 Islands to Saudi Arabia
By REUTERSJUNE 24, 2017
CAIRO — President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt ratified an agreement on Saturday
that cedes sovereignty over two uninhabited Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, brushing off widespread public criticism of the deal in Egypt.
Saudi Arabia has helped Mr. Sisi since he toppled President Mohamed Morsi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013,
and the wrangling over the Red Sea deal was a source of tensions between the two countries.
Egyptian said that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ratified the maritime demarcation
agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
Atlantic Council said that The transfer has been a long time coming; Riyadh has made it clear they expect the islands and Cairo agreed,
It shows Sisi’s administration doesn’t feel there is much of a risk to be taken." The issue touched a patriotic nerve, bringing thousands of protesters
to the streets in April chanting "people want the fall of the regime," a slogan little heard since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.
Mr. Sisi’s government announced the maritime agreement last year with Saudi Arabia, an ally that has given billions of dollars of aid to Egypt.