Al Jazeera Net correspondents
North Sinai- Yesterday, Wednesday, the Egyptian House of Representatives finally approved amending the Desert Lands Law No. 143 of 1981 with the aim of allowing foreign investors to own desert lands in Egypt Without any restrictions, under the pretext of increasing the volume of foreign investments in the country and reconstructing desert lands.
The draft law replaced the texts of the second paragraphs of Articles 11 and 12 of the Desert Lands Law by stipulating that “other than in cases where the investor obtains the lands necessary to carry out his activity, Egyptian ownership must not be less than 51% of the company’s capital, and individual ownership must not exceed 20% of the capital.” Its money, with the impermissibility of transferring the lands of cooperative societies and companies upon their expiration to non-Egyptians.”
Massive noise
The decision caused widespread uproar among northern citizens Sinai Those who were displaced during what the Egyptian government said was a “war on terrorism” in large areas of the border governorate, and were unable to return to their lands again.
Suleiman Ayyash (pseudonym), a resident of the city, says Rafah On the border, “I left my land, my home, and everything I owned in the hope that I would return to it again after the elimination of terrorism, but it seems that hope has been cut off, and I have nothing from the wreckage of the world except the clothes that I wear.”
He added, “I was living in the hope of returning again, even if I did not have official papers from the state, but the decisions that the government issues daily cut off my hopes completely, and whoever pays the most will take our place.”
Egyptian parliamentarian Mohamed Al-Fayoumi, head of the Housing Committee in the House of Representatives, said, “Egyptian security is safe under the leadership of the president Abdel Fattah Sisi“Egypt in 1982 is not Egypt 2024,” considering that Law No. 14 of 2012 sets strict rules regarding Sinai lands, “and that we all know what is being plotted against Sinai, and it is not possible to issue legislation regarding ownership operations there.”
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Muhammad Jumaan – a resident of North Sinai – said, “The government believes that it has the right to rent, own, or sell our lands where we grew up to investors who paid for them in advance, and whoever demands that we return to his land or own it will be arrested immediately.”
He added, “They talk about Sinai lands in particular as if they are redundant, and we demand that the government grant us ownership of our lands to use, reclaim, and settle us in a way that protects the rights we are begging for.”
📌 On Wednesday, January 3, 2024, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to the law #Desert_lands which allows for the first time foreigners to purchase and own lands in desert areas.
◾ These amendments raised fears that they would open the door to foreigners owning lands in #SinaiEspecially with the increasing talk in the media… pic.twitter.com/0RoBnEgO1U
– Don’t believe it (@matsda2sh) January 4, 2024
Wobbly decisions
For his part, Hassan Salama Alyan (28 years old), a resident of the city of Bir al-Abd, says that life in Sinai is difficult in general, but it is impossible with the fluctuation of daily government decisions.
Alyan expressed his fear of his unknown fate – according to him – as he owns land that he cultivates seasonal vegetables, and he does not know where things will lead.
He continues, “We do not have any control over our decisions, but in a difficult economic situation and according to the reality we are living in, we will be mere workers for low wages for the investors who will settle in our land and own it against our will.”
Salim Awad – a resident of the Sheikh Zuweid city area – fears that the law that facilitates the process of foreigners owning desert lands in Egypt – especially in Sinai – “will be a prelude to the displacement and resettlement of residents.” Gaza strip Part of it, and the other part is owned by whoever pays the most.”
Awad wondered in disapproval, “How can a foreigner own land that has been inherited for generations and we cannot prove that it is ours? I saw with my own eyes investors in Gulf uniforms who came to inspect our lands two years ago, and of course they paid for it in advance, and we find no one crying for us, the owners of the land.”
In turn, Amr Qatami, a member of the Egyptian House of Representatives and Secretary of the Economic Affairs Committee in Parliament, said that granting foreigners the right to own land for the purpose of investment is an important step to achieve stability for the investor, and is consistent with what was stated in the constitution regarding the Egyptian economy’s commitment to standards of transparency, governance, and supporting competitiveness, according to his estimation.
Instead of returning them to their land, the army tried them military-wise and arrested their tribe’s sheikh.
The Sinai Foundation calls on the Egyptian authorities to release the detainees in Case No. 80 of 2023, against the backdrop of the “Right of Return” demonstrations, led by the prominent Sinai sheikh “Saber Al-Sayyah.”#Right of Return #Sinai #Rafah pic.twitter.com/VLOZgeVfE5— Sinai for Human Rights (@Sinaifhr) December 30, 2023
For his part, economic expert Ahmed Ismail says that the decision is not new and comes in implementation of previous decisions that already exist and are amended periodically, stressing that all lands in Egypt are at the disposal of the armed forces.
The economic expert expresses his concern “for fear that only one party will control the capabilities and destinies of Egyptian citizens, and that this amendment will not reduce the budget deficit or provide cash surpluses to contribute to enhancing economic development in any way.”
