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Middle East

Egyptian court rejects border demarcation pact with Saudi

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - In this file picture taken Friday, April 8, 2016, provided by the office of the Egyptian Presidency, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, right, stands with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Cairo. An Egyptian court has rejected as illegal a demarcation border agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia under which Cairo would surrender control over two Red Sea islands to Riyadh. (Mohamed Abd El Moatey, Egyptian Presidency via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this Monday, April 11, 2016 file photo provided by the office of the Egyptian Presidency, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, left, shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's King Salman before he departs Egypt. An Egyptian court has rejected as illegal a demarcation border agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia under which Cairo would surrender control over two Red Sea islands to Riyadh. (Sherif Abdel Minoem, Egyptian Presidency via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

CAIRO – An Egyptian court has rejected as illegal a demarcation border agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia under which Cairo would surrender control over two Red Sea islands to Riyadh.

The Tuesday verdict by the administrative court could deal a blow to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government, which has zealously argued that the agreement would bring economic benefits for Egypt.

The government also maintains that the islands of Tiran and Sanafir at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba are owned by Saudi Arabia, which placed them under Egyptian control in 1950 for protection.

The verdict can be appealed.

The agreement was announced in April during a high-profile visit to Cairo by the Saudi monarch, King Salman, during which he announced a multi-billion dollar aid package to Egypt.