Friday March 29th, 2024
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Egyptian Foreign Minister Enraged Over Controversial Poll by Russia Today

RT recently published a Survey that really riled up the Egyptian State Information Service (SIS), the Foreign Ministry, and probably a few million Egyptians too.

Staff Writer

Over the Weekend, Russia Today decided to launch a poll asking who the Halayeb Triangle rightfully belongs to, Egypt or Sudan. The poll - deleted without a trace on Saturday - raised many eyebrows in the Egyptian State Information Service and the foreign ministry, bringing up questions regarding state sovereignty as well as "unprofessional journalism".

On Saturday the Egyptian government made its stance on the Russian publication's poll clear by summoning RT (Russia Today) officials in Egypt. The SIS stated that they wanted to "inform them of Egypt's deep rejection and full condemnation of such acts that violate sovereignty of the state, and to identify the circumstances of this publication in preparation for taking the aforementioned steps and procedures," according to Egypt Today. Egypt's foreign minister also cancelled an interview with Russia Today on Saturday due to the survey's publication which was taken down (probably after a call from Putin). An apology was released by RT, explaining that they did not mean to offend Egypt or question Egypt's sovereignty .

The Halayeb Triangle is a thorny issue that has constrained Egyptian-Sudanese relations since both countries gained independence from the UK. Under Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt took full control of the Triangle , expelling Sudanese police and officials, and asserting its sovereignty over the land that it has administered for many decades.  The Halayeb Triangle consists of a few small cities; Halayeb, Abu Ramad and Shalateen (the largest city in the Halayeb Triangle).

The residents in the Halayeb triangle should get a say too right? The ethnic people who have lived in the cities that make up the triangle, have claimed that they are "100% Egyptian," according to Egypt Today, after celebrating Egypt's victory in the 6th of October war in 2009.

The Halayeb Triangle is full of untapped natural minerals that have not been harvested or mined due to the complexity of the border issue.

The roughly 20,000 square kilometers that makes up the area is definitely a territory that neither side would cede, however while they are both so busy fighting over it there is also a portion of land south of the Sudanese border that is unoccupied by any government; Bir Tawil, is one of only two habitable territories unclaimed by any government all over the world.

Main Image by Getty Images.