Sudan called on Egypt to negotiate over the contested areas of Hala’ib and Shalateen, stating that it would otherwise resort to international arbitration to restore its rights to the areas, according to official Sudanese news agency SUNA.
The Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday, commenting on the agreement that saw the transfer of sovereignty over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia, that Sudan will monitor such agreements to restore its rights to Hala’ib and Shalateen.
Earlier this year, Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour said the only way to resolve the land dispute is through an appeal to dialogue between Sudan and Egypt.
Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry declared in January that Egypt and Sudan are committed to reacging an agreement to serve the interest of the two peoples, and to achieving economic development in the face of international and regional threats.
Egyptian-Sudanese border disputes over the Hala’ib Triangle first arose in January 1958, when the Egyptian government sent a memorandum to the Sudanese government objecting to a new election law issued by the Sudan on 27 February 1958.
Shortly after Sudanese independence from Britain and Egypt, Sudan planned to hold elections in the triangle. President Nasser deployed troops to the area for a short period of time to secure the area ahead of the referendum for the United Arab Republic.
Until 1992, the two countries jointly controlled the area, until Egypt protested Sudan’s concession of exploration rights of the Hala’ib Triangle to a Canadian oil company.
