Egypt to reclaim Sinai against threat of terrorism

AUTHORITIES in Egypt have said that the country’s next move will be to reclaim the Sinai region, after it had completed the New Suez Canal project, which was opened for use on August 6.

At the tour of the New Suez Canal facility in Ismailia recently, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Rear Admiral Mohab Mameesh, told journalists from Sub-Saharan Africa that now that the New Suez Canal has been achieved, the next move would be to create life in Sinai through development. “We need Sinai, we can’t leave it as it is”, he said.

However, the country will need to reclaim the area before development can take place. This task may not come easy as the area remains occupied by Islamic State affiliated terrorist group according to media reports. But President Abdulfattah El-Sisi looks prepared for the task bearing in mind analysts’ interpretation of his military attire at the opening of the new canal in early August.

Analysts had indicated that his military attire (though Al-Sisi is not running a military government) may be a warning to terrorists that his government will not tolerate attacks.

It should be noted that this would not be the first time that Egypt will have to fight to reclaim the Sinai region. Decades ago, it had to fight Israeli occupation in a war. Now Egypt has to fight off terrorists in order to reclaim the land for development.

The Suez Canal Authourity chief said his country is capable of ensuring security of its people, and for all the ships that use the Suez Canal. “Throughout the one year we were on the project, there was no security incidence. 3,000 foreign workers worked on the New Suez Canal project night and day and there was no incidence. That shows our capability to secure the waterways.