Egyptian President Agrees to Cede 2 Islands to Saudi Arabia<br />By REUTERSJUNE 24, 2017<br />CAIRO — President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt ratified an agreement on Saturday<br />that cedes sovereignty over two uninhabited Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, brushing off widespread public criticism of the deal in Egypt.<br />Saudi Arabia has helped Mr. Sisi since he toppled President Mohamed Morsi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013,<br />and the wrangling over the Red Sea deal was a source of tensions between the two countries.<br />Egyptian said that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ratified the maritime demarcation<br />agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,<br />Atlantic Council said that The transfer has been a long time coming; Riyadh has made it clear they expect the islands and Cairo agreed,<br />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<br />to the streets in April chanting "people want the fall of the regime," a slogan little heard since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.<br />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.
