Supreme Court upholds ruling Tiran & Sanafir agreement

The Supreme Administrative Court has upheld a previous ruling that annulled a maritime demarcation agreement signed between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in April. 

The court on Monday said the signing of the agreement by the representative of the Egyptian government was invalid.

The deal had stated that the islands of Tiran and Sanafir belonged to Saudi Arabia. 

Today, the Supreme Administrative Court unanimously overturned a challenge filed by the government against the first ruling. 
Sentences by the Supreme Administrative Court are final and cannot be challenged. 

Chief Justice Ahmed el Shazly said the court is convinced that Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian islands and part of the sovereign Egyptian lands. 

The Egyptian government failed to submit any documents that prove otherwise, Shazly said.

The court also responded to questions raised about Egypt's occupation of the two islands, Shazly said, stressing that the Egyptian army has never been an occupation army and has only been dispatched abroad to defend Egypt's security.

Source: MENA