Recently, Nubians gathered in buses and vehicles, traveling through more than 44 Nubian villages in a campaign they called "Knocking on Doors" to prevent the sale of Nubian lands in a public auction, known in Nubian as "Armenna Fo Roghnari Nubia."
They gathered many villagers and blocked the railway line between Cairo and Aswan at the "Daru" station. They also blocked the Abu Simbel International Road and the road in front of the village of "Al-Korour." The police fired at them, injuring two young Nubian men with live bullets.
In addition, the situation escalated politically as Mohamed Azmi, the head of the Nubian Union, supported the cause with several members of parliament and the governor of Aswan. A large meeting of all Nubian tribal elders was held to discuss how to respond to the Egyptian government's decision to include their lands in the "One and a Half Million Feddan Project."
Background on the One-and-a-Half Million Feddan Project:
In early 2014, President Sisi announced a major land reclamation project called the "One and a Half Million Feddan Project." The project aimed to expand agricultural land to increase crop production and achieve food sustainability. A large map of targeted lands was prepared, including areas in Nubia in the Western Desert.
The Problem:
The problem began when the Nubians were surprised that a large part of their inhabited lands had been included in this map without their consent. This raised concerns about their future and the fate of their lands. Then, Sisi ordered the removal of encroachments on state lands, especially in floodplain areas.
However, the problem continued. The project's published terms in Al-Ahram newspaper stated that only 20% of the lands would be allocated to Egyptians, while 80% would be reserved for Arab and foreign investment. The head of the "Egyptian Countryside Company," which was tasked with selling the lands, spoke about the concept of "agricultural tourism," raising Nubians' fears that the door might be opened to foreign investors to exploit their lands for up to 30 years, which could be seen as a form of foreign control.
Nubians, known for their peace and kindness, have suffered from being displaced from their villages multiple times throughout history. This happened in 1902 with the British construction of the Aswan Reservoir, then again in 1912 and 1933 with the reservoir's heightening, and in 1962 with the construction of the High Dam during Gamal Abdel Nasser's era. This time, the issue wasn't the displacement but their lack of trust in the state and fear that their historical lands might be sold to any investor.
Nubians' Reaction:
The Nubians tried peacefully dealing with the state by submitting inquiries to the parliament and the cabinet and sending messages to President Sisi. However, they received the response that the priority for ownership would be given to the Nubians. This response did not satisfy the Nubians, who asked, "How can our lands be sold to us?"
Previous Nubian Projects:
In the past, many projects in Nubia failed due to a lack of coordination with the locals. For example, the Toshka Project aimed to provide jobs for the youth and expand agricultural land. It could not achieve its goals due to the great difficulties the youth faced moving to those remote desert areas.
Nubians' Demands:
With Sisi's presidency, there was hope that Nubians' demands would be considered. A clause was included in the new constitution stating that any projects on Nubian lands must be coordinated with the locals to compensate them for the historical injustices they suffered. However, given the difficult economic circumstances, the government began considering selling the lands to foreigners as a funding source.
In response, Nubians organized peaceful protests and raised their demands to the government. However, they faced accusations from some parties of being driven by external forces because their region was rich in gold. But the Nubians asked, "If this is true, why are the lands being sold to Arabs and foreigners with usufruct rights for up to 30 years?"
Conclusion:
With the state's strict control, the ongoing implementation of evacuation and land sale plans under military supervision, and a presidential decree, the Nubians have come out to say, "No, our land is not for sale." The question now remains: What about those who support selling the land? And will they continue to support the regime after all these violations?
I have all respect and appreciation for the kind people of Nubia who came out to defend their right to their historical lands at a time when many remain silent or support decisions that harm the nation's and people's interests.