Saudi Arabia: Egyptian islands handover disputed in Cairo courts

Egyptian Administrative Court judge Yehia Al-Dakroury on 21 June ruled that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi cannot cede two Red Sea islands, Tiran and Sanafir, to Saudi Arabia, as had been agreed in a settlement of the two countries’ maritime boundary during King Salman Bin Abdelaziz’s visit in April. On 26 June, the High Administrative Court sat to hear the case, but called a postponement until 3 July to study a recusal request presented by lawyers opposed to the deal. Sisi’s agreement to transfer the islands back to Saudi Arabia –which leased them to Cairo in 1954 – sparked protests from Egyptians who said the islands were theirs and ‘gifting’ them to Riyadh was unconstitutional.