The State Council Administrative Court has set a date of October 8 to hear the government's appeal against an earlier ruling that nullified an agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia concerning demarcation of maritime borders.
According to the border demarcation agreement signed in April, the two Red Sea islands Tiran and Sanafir were placed within Saudi waters, in recognition of historical claims on the part of Saudi Arabia.
The Administrative Court nullified this agreement on June 21 on the basis that there was insufficient evidence of the Saudi claims.
In July, the State Lawsuits Authority (SLA), representing the government, filed a case at the Supreme Constitutional Court and an appeal at the Supreme Administrative Court against the nullification of the border agreement, with a view to allowing the bilateral agreement to stand.
The SLA presented documents to the high court, allegedly proving the integrity of the demarcation agreement.
The demarcation agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia provoked extensive criticism against the government in April and people took to the streets to protest against it, with security forces responding to protests by making numerous arrests.
In a speech, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on the Egyptian people not to talk about the matter anymore, but rather leave the issue to be determined in the courts.
The initial lawsuit to have the agreement revoked was filed by lawyer and former presidential hopeful, Khaled Ali, supported by other lawyers and MPs.
