New road between Egypt and Sudan to open

And who will ride the ferries across Lake Nassar? And will they be missed?

One motorcyle traveller says he would be Waiting 7-8 hours and sailing on the ferry from Aswan to for another 17-18 hours. Driving would have taken max. 5 hours.

Khartoum — The Egyptian minister of Commerce, Industry and investments Munir Fakhri Abdel-Nur announced the land crossings between with Sudan will be opened over the next few days to facilitate the flow of trade between the two countries as well as central Africa and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Egyptian minister of Trade, Investment and Industry Munir Fakhri Abdel-Nur

According to Egyptian news agency (MENA), Abdel-Nur made the revelation at the opening ceremony of the workshop organized by the trade agreement sector at his ministry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on trade facilitation through the development of ports and border crossings management.

The minister underscored the importance of strengthening the performance of trade and transport corridors between Arab countries to increase the flow of goods and people across borders and to help achieve regional economic integration.

He also stressed the need to eliminate current obstacles and challenges that hampers the development of inter-Arab trade which Abdel-Nur Said accounts for only 10% of the total regional trade.
Observers say that the inauguration of border crossings is held up by disagreements over the Halayeb region which both countries claim.

allafrica

Birding in the Hala'ib Triangle

African collared dove

Two years ago, a group of bird watchers went to south-eastern Egypt near the border of Sudan to explore the Jebel Elba region. Here's their birding report and some descriptions of their expedition.

“In the Eastern Desert, the mountains rise gradually from west to east to form a dramatic barrier. Amongst the notable mountains is Gebel Elba which because of its unique attributes it is the most important area for flora and fauna in Egypt. It can also be classed as one of the least explored corners of the world but nevertheless is subject to innumerable threats.”

“Gebel Elba is an igneous mountain complex located approximately 20 kilometres west of the Red Sea and rises to a maximum altitude of 1437 metres. The highest peaks act as a “dew trap”, taking the condensation from the clouds that often cover the mountain. The coast curves slightly to the east giving Gebel Elba an unusually broad front to the sea across a 25 kilometre strip of relatively flat land. This enables moist air from the Red Sea to condense on the peak of the mountain to create a “mist oasis”.”

“The area is restricted for foreign visitors, but after long negotiations, Birding in Egypt with the generous assistance of the Ministry of Defence and Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), organised and conducted a preliminary survey of the massif between 3 and 10 of April 2010, with an international ornithological team composed by 6 members, based on their own individual request.”

“We fully understand and applaud the government restrictions in the area due to the highly sensitive environment already affected by the prolonged drought, and have no intention of encouraging tourism of any nature in the region at any time.”

Full report.

Tourism - into southeast Egypt

Want to explore the coast of the Red Sea is southern Egypt? Travel with a couple of cosmopolitan writers from Cairo as they explore the region around Shalateen.

Though written 18 months ago, the articles are a delightful record of two tourists who get an inside view into a Bisharin wedding, see a sword dance and discover henna body art.

... After two days of haggling with security officials to obtain permits to enter Halayeb, (we never figured out why the government finds it so important to keep the triangle closed) we departed on a punishing, albeit rewarding, off-road drive into the mountains to attend a wedding. There, 150km from the nearest town, we learned about making henna and dancing with swords. Two days later we were walking through Roman temples and past ancient water wells tucked away in the mountains of Wadi el-Gemal, home to the largest population of gazelles in Egypt.

Seven articles in order, as published in the Cairo newspaper, almasryalyoum.com

A hunt for adventure

Shalateen - between a rock and a hard place

The long drive down

The hunt for truths

Beja wedding night in Elba protectorate

Beja style henna method

Farewell to the south

Bashir in RSS: as translated from Arabic

bing translator.


Bashir: Sudan will not be contentious between Egypt and Sudan

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 10: 25    Local news

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to Halaib mentor will be an area for networking and integration and exchange of experiences and benefits with the State of Egypt, stressing at the same time that the Halaib issue would be resolved shortly and that it will not be a cause for differences between the two countries.

Sudanese President said during his meeting with city public ausiv local Halaib after opening a number of basic development projects that the Egyptian revolution represents a real shift in relations between the two countries, revealing that the Government of the Sudan earlier by former rulers of Egypt in dealing with a positive vision beyond political boundaries between the two countries, adding "we told them that the colonial border in the Sudan, we consider our Mediterranean."

President Al-Bashir confirmed that Halaib will not be subject to differences between the two countries after the Egyptian youth revolution and haiahm extended pay special tribute to the people of Egypt.

Sudan's Beshir vowed that education shall be compulsory for all citizens,  vowing that the Government take legal action against those who violate the said compulsory Government's commitment to continuing education-for-food programme.

President Al-Bashir, Minister of livestock and fisheries d. Faisal Hassan Ibrahim to begin immediately to establish a quarry veterinarian bausiv to facilitate the export of livestock to the sisterly Egypt.

source


Al Bashir: Government Committed to Providing Services to Eastern Sudan
Posted on Monday, June 20 @ 00:15:00 UTC by admin

President Al Bashir Sunday affirmed hios government commitment to supply Eastern Sudan with all necessary services.

Addressing a mass rally in Sinkat Locality, during his current visit to Red Sea State, Al Bashir called on them to concert their efforts with the north, to achieve a sustainable development in the country, besides providing southern and northern citizens with the essential facilities.

Addressing a mass rally yesterday in the locality of Haya, Red Sea state, he said the government would continue programs aimed at providing services to citizens and achieving a balanced development. Al Bashir affirmed that the strategy of the government does not discriminate between urban and rural citizens, rather priority is given to urgent needs: food, health and education.

He said that projects, which have been inaugurated in the locality of Haya, are the rights of its people. “That is their [government] responsibility before Allah,” he stated.

Al Bashir inaugurated the premises of Dordaib locality, Red Sea, executed by Osok Company at estimated cost of above SDG 3 millions. He also inaugurated Dordain more than one megawatt electricity grid, which cost above SDG 16 million funded by East Reconstruction and development Fund. 

He inaugurated a high school for boys in Dordaib at more than one million pounds funded by the state’s government.  His Excellency inaugurated a number of facilities in the locality of Haya included Haya hospital, whose construction cost above SDG5 millions funded by the government of the state. He inaugurated ambulance project, three ambulances supplied at a cost of more than 2.5 million each funded by the state’s government. He inaugurated a multi story medical cadres’ house in Haya constructed at three millions to meet the needs of medical personnel operating in the locality.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Tahir Eillla, the Governor of the Red Sea State, said the inaugurated service and development projects in the locality of Dordaib symbolized loyalty to the people who pledged their allegiance to Al Engaz and supported the National Congress Party in past general elections.

sourced from Sudan Vision

Egypt and Sudan to discuss Hala'ib region

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Karti visited Egypt last week. Discussions covered such topics as water irrigation and views about the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Sudanese President Bashir.  Karti ended his trip to Egypt with a number of agreements to activate the freedom of movement, trade, ownership and residence.

For readers of Adroub.net, we were pleased to see that a proposal has been established to deal with the Hala'ib triangle.

The Halayib proposal involves setting up a common administration to develop the area for the interest of the two countries, according to a spokesperson at the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khalid Mousa. The proposal will be discussed in the near future, he adds.

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also disclosed that Egyptian Prime Minister ordered authorities to release 73 Sudanese arrested in Egypt. Mousa explained that those Sudanese had entered the Egyptian territories when they were digging for gold through traditional mining.

From Sudan Vision.

On the mapping of the Halaib Triangle. Does the USA-based National Geographic make correct maps?

This Sudan Tribune article points out that Minister Karti had previously caused tension with the Egyptians. It describes, [from summer 2010,] some of the same issues between Egypt and Sudan. Worth a read.

Hala'ib Triangle rule to be sorted out

In joint meetings between Egypt and Sudan, the Sudanese ambassador to Egypt spoke about the Hala'ib triangle region. Both countries claim rule over the desert region by the Red Sea. It is important because oil companies have wanted to drill in the region. The Beja Bisharin tribe live in the area.

Ambassador Lt. Gen ® Abdul Rahman Sir Al Ketim said that this year will witness opening of three highways that link Sudan with Egypt. He explained that the Halib issue was one of the issues that were not discussed in the past, but at the joint meetings it was being publicly discussed and committees were formed to submit proposals to make Halib an area of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Source from  Sudan Vision

Lighting up the east

 East Reconstruction Fund Pledges to Light Up all Villages, Including Halaib

from Sudan Vision Daily News Paper Official Website

By: Al Samani Awad Allah

Agreements on grants of the Kuwaiti Fund for Development and the Arab Fund for Development to implement a number of projects in the three Eastern states are expected to be concluded next week, according to Deputy Executive Director of East Sudan Development & Reconstruction Fund, Nafie Ibrahim Nafie. 

The link to the complete story is broken.

http://www.sudanvisiondaily.com//modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=70786

"Halayeb could ignite conflict"

A Sudanese Presidential Advisor has issued a statement clarifying the Presidential Assistant's statement that Egypt should immediately return the Hala'ib triangle to Sudanese control.

In the new statement by Dr. Ghazi Salah Addee. he says that the previous statement by Mousa Ahmed, of the  Beja tribe is confusing.

The new statement tries to undo the rashness of the first statement by putting the regional hopes of the Beja people into a national context, and by putting possible negotiations with Egypt into a more appropriate timeline.

There was much grace given, as there was no condemnation of the Assistant's person at all.

Read the statement at Sudan Vision.

Musa Ahmed wants Hala'ib region back

A senior official in President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir's government has demanded that the Egyptian army "immediately" cedes control of Halayeb, bringing back to the fore Sudan-Egypt's longstanding territorial dispute over the border region.

The Egyptian army seized control of Halayeb region, which occupies an area of land measuring 20,580 square km in the border areas of the Red Sea coast, after relations between the two neighbors plummeted due to the 1995's failed attempt by Islamists allegedly backed by Sudan to assassinate Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa.

In an interview relayed on Wednesday [February 16] by Al-Shurug Satellite TV, Sudan's presidential aide and leader of the former eastern rebels Beja Congress Musa Mohammed Ahmad called on the Egyptian army to pull out of Halayeb "immediately" so the area would not become a "bone of contention" between the neighboring nations.

Musa stressed that the issue is now easier to settle after the resignation of Mubarak whose regime Musa accused of "deliberately inciting sedition" between the two countries, expressing hope that the new Egyptian government would correct the mistakes of the old regime.

Mubarak was ousted last Friday [February 11] after 18 days of public protests against his 30-year rule. The Egyptian army is now the controlling power in the country for a six months transitional period open for extension.

Musa urged the high council of the Egyptian army to immediately pull out of Halayib, claiming that historical documents confirm that the area belongs to Sudan.

The official expressed support for the proposal put forward by Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to refer the issue of Halayeb to the UN Security Council (UNSC), saying that ruling on the issue would be in the favor of Sudan because the latter possesses documents confirming that "the triangle is 100% Sudanese"

Sudanese officials have long avoided raising the issue of Halayeb in public for fears of angering their Egyptian counterparts. Sudan has avoided registering voters inside Halayeb for the elections which took place last year despite earlier assertions that the region was included as a constituency.
But the issue of Halayeb flared up in July of last year when President Al-Bashir made a surprising assertion that "Halayeb is Sudanese and will stay Sudanese" while addressing a rally of his supporters at the coastal town of Port Sudan.

However, Al-Bashir's remarks were brushed aside by Egypt's foreign minister Ahmad Aboul-Gheit who said that "the Southern borders to Egypt are well known at latitude 22° and I see no need to further indulge in the historical backgrounds [of this subject]."

The Egyptian minister further noted that there was an agreement between Bashir and his Egyptian counterpart to make Halayeb and integration and development zone.

The genesis of the disputes over Halayib dates back to as early as 1958 after Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian Condominium. The wrangle is a result of a discrepancy in the demarcation of political boundaries set by the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium and the ones set earlier by the British in 1902.

Cairo rejects any international arbitration over the area. This week Sudan's foreign ministry said that the country's complaint to the UNSC on Halayeb pending since 1958 is renewed annually for consideration.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201102180834.html

Previous stories on this blog include
http://adroub.blogspot.com/2010/07/halaib-triangle-still-under-dispute.html

and
http://adroub.blogspot.com/2009/12/beja-congress-leader-stopped-at-border.html

and
http://adroub.blogspot.com/2009/10/no-access-to-halayeb-triangle.html

and
http://adroub.blogspot.com/2009/06/open-letter-to-us-president-obama.html

Hala'ib Triangle still under dispute

 Egypt is attempting to strengthen its hold on the region just north of the 22° Egypt/Sudan border. Tribal movements are being limited, and efforts are underway to move the camel market in Shalayatan (just north of the disputed territory) into Hala'ib town (inside the disputed territory).

An extended discussion brings the reader up to date with many of the issues involved. Interviews with local inhabitants reveal that many Ababda and "Beja" [Bisharin?] think of themselves as Egyptian.

http://bit.ly/aoXtrQ

UPDATE: July 27. The National, a newspaper published out of Abu Dhabi, describes the troubles between Egypt and Sudan in the region of the disputed Halaib Triangle. In English.

http://bit.ly/9gg2Jb

Sudan Election- not in Hala'ib Triangle

Al-Intibaha reports that Egyptian authorities asked tribal chiefs in Halaib Triangle to urge their members not to register their names. The chiefs said Egyptian authorities told them that the Triangle belongs to Egypt and that residents have no right to register or vote in Sudanese elections.

You tube video "Halaib Triangle belongs to Sudan" [in Arabic]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZG1ezJfRR4