84 “Mubarat Kurat Qadam Tu`id Malaf al-Khilaf al-Masry al-Sudani Hawl Halayeb wa Shalatin” [A football match revives the Sudanese Egyptian disagreement over Halayeb and Shalatin], Al-Quds al-Araby, 2 February 2020, www.alquds.co.uk/. “In any agreement with Sudan, we always take into account the aspirations of the peoples of both countries,” he said. “This requires efforts and new policies to support this cause. 38 “Sudan Says Egyptian Red Sea Oil and Gas Blocks Are on Its Territory,” Reuters, March 20, 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-sudan/sudan-says-egyptian-red-sea-oil-and-gas-blocks-are-on-its-territory-idUSKCN1R1246. 22 Gerasimos Tsourapas, “Egypt: Migration and Diaspora Policy in an Emerging Transit Country,” Migration Policy Institute, August 8, 2018, www.migrationpolicy.org/article/egypt-migration-and-diaspora-politics-emerging-transit-country. The fourth factor that has influenced border relations is how the territorial conflict between Egypt and Sudan has exacerbated bilateral relations during the Mubarak era and strengthened the legacy of mutual resentment. During this period, relations were marked by increased tensions and even military clashes that led to bad blood between countries. What is remarkable is that the atmosphere was poisoned very early, the sinking of an Egyptian ferry in May 1983, which caused the death of more than 300 Sudanese. At the time, ferries, with the exception of air links, were the only means of transport between the two countries.

The ferry, called the 10. Ramadan, fire and decreased in Lake Nasser.42 Many Sudanese blamed Egyptian neglect and slow intervention of the high death toll. In addition, the ferry was poorly maintained and inadequate security measures were taken.43 The Nile, Egypt`s vital artery, crosses Sudan before reaching Egypt. [1] It is estimated that 95% of Egyptians depend on the Nile for fresh water. [1] In 1959, the two countries agreed on a water-sharing formula, with Sudan having been granted permission to use about a quarter of the electricity and Egypt about three-quarters. [1] The allocation was based on a specified annual flow, which varies considerably from year to year. [1] As a general rule, a surplus is greater than this amount. [1] As a result, the use of Nile water by other residents until 2011 had not caused a crisis with Egypt and Sudan. [1] However, none of the other eight riparian countries was signed in this 1959 bilateral agreement and was not allocated for water.

[1] Since 2000, Sudan has begun to express interest in amending the terms of the agreement so that it can use a larger percentage of electricity. [1] Seven of the other eight riparian countries – Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda – also insisted on a water distribution formula being revised. [1] In 1999, the nine countries founded the Nile Basin Initiative as a forum for discussion on cooperation in the development of the Nile Basin. [1] Since then, no agreement has been reached until 2011, partly because Egypt and Sudan have refused to reduce their share of water. [1] Egypt was also concerned that the comprehensive peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People`s Liberation Movement in 2005 would lead to a new state in South Sudan. [1] Egypt hoped for a unified Sudan, as South Sudan will be another state with which it may have to negotiate water rights. [1] In 2010, there was a strong division between seven of the neighbouring countries that reached their own agreement and the opposition of Egypt and Sudan to this agreement. [1] 55 Brian Whitaker, “20 killed as Egyptian Police Evict Sudanese Protesters,” Guardian, 31 December 2005, www.theguardian.com/world/2005/dec/31/sudan.brianwhitaker.