Sudan Summons Egyptian Ambassador Over Tender For Oil Exploration In Disputed Area

CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said it had summoned on Thursday Egyptian Ambassador to the country over the Egyptian international tender for oil exploration and extraction in the disputed area, called the Hala'ib Triangle.

"[Sudanese] Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Badreddin Abdullah expressed a protest from Sudan to the Egyptian ambassador [over the tender], having pointed out that such steps were not in line with the status of the Hala'ib Triangle," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry noted that the tender was not in line with broader steps made by both countries in order to build bilateral strategic partnership.

Sudan also warned foreign countries and companies against taking part in the tenders for projects in the disputed areas.

"Sudan is once again calling on Egypt to use peaceful means to settle this border dispute and prevent its further influence on the bilateral relations," the ministry added.

The territorial dispute between Sudan and Egypt emerged in the colonial era when both countries were part of the British Empire. In 1902, the British Empire changed the administrative border between two colonies having transferred the Hala'ib Triangle to Sudan in exchange for the Bir Tawil region. After gaining independence from the British Empire, Egypt refused to recognize the 1902 decision of the British authorities, which resulted in both countries' claims for the Hala'ib Triangle and their refusal to recognize Bir Tawil as part of their territory.