Cairo’s Court for Urgent Matters has ruled that the country’s High Administrative Court had no jurisdiction over the Red sea matter.
The court ruled in January that Tiran and Sanafir Red Sea islands are Egyptians.
In April last year, Egypt’s government signed an agreement to place both islands under Saudi Arabian sovereignty
Contrary to the first court, the latest verdict supports the government stance that the islets always belonged to Saudi Arabia.
And that Egypt had been merely administering them since the 1950s.
“The Urgent Matters Court verdict is only a formality, it temporarily halts a previous verdict by the Higher Court, but it doesn’t cancel it because the Higher Court is more powerful than Urgent Matters court.” Said Baher Abdel Azim- Arab Affairs Journalist, Al Bawaba News
“So now we have two opposite verdicts on the same issue. What should be done in such a rare and delicate situation? Well, the law says, the case goes to a third more powerful court”
It’s the higher constitutional Court. It could have the final say on who owns the red sea islands.
Looking for a breakthrough, the Government handed over the Saudi border agreement to parliament for ratification.
But the issue is so controversial, that Parliament shied away from taking a stance
But the latest decision might not be final
“Parliament itself is divided on the border agreement. It was upsetting and to avoid embarrassment the assembly decided to wait for a final court verdict first before taking a vote” Said Baher Abdel Azim- Arab Affairs Journalist, Al Bawaba News
The Saudi Border demarcation case is bracing for another round of legal duels, prolonging with it, the divisions and controversy surrounding the red sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir
