The secret behind the protests of the Nubian people

Nubians recently gathered and traveled across more than 44 Nubian villages in a campaign to prevent the sale of their lands at public auction. They managed to mobilize many villagers and blocked the railway from Cairo to Aswan at Daraw Center. They also blocked the international road at Abu Simbel and in front of Al-Kurur village. The police fired at them, resulting in two young Nubian men being shot.

Additionally, there was a political escalation led by Mohammed Azmi, the head of the Nubian Union, supported by several members of Parliament and the governor of Aswan. They held a comprehensive meeting with all Nubian tribe leaders to discuss strategies against the Egyptian government's decision to include their land in a new farming project called "the million and a half acres".

This project, announced by President Sisi in early 2014, aimed to expand agricultural land to increase crops and achieve food self-sufficiency. However, the project plan unexpectedly included large parts of populated Nubian lands, marked for development without the residents' consent. This led to an evacuation order issued by the military, especially for areas prone to floods.

Moreover, the project's terms published in Al-Ahram newspaper stated that only 20% of the land was allocated for Egyptians, with 80% reserved for Arab and foreign investment, promoting "agricultural tourism". This effectively opened up the project for 30 years of use, resembling an occupation, with no excluded nations, even in light of Egypt's normalization with Israel and its allies, which raised concerns about the implications for the sovereignty and control over these lands.

Let's go back to our beloved Nubians, a people known for their peace and kindness. Unfortunately, they have faced multiple displacements from their simple villages across various eras. In 1902, the British constructed the Aswan Reservoir, submerging several villages. More villages were submerged in 1912 and 1933 when the reservoir was raised. Then, in 1962, during the era of Gamal Abdel Nasser and the construction of the High Dam, most Nubians were relocated.

This time, the issue isn't just about displacement, but a lack of trust in the state to protect their historical lands from being sold off.

Despite their peaceful attempts through official requests to the Parliament and the Cabinet, and direct messages to President Sisi, they were only given a generic response stating that Nubians would have priority in owning their lands. This seemed ironic since the land is theirs, and yet the state planned to sell it back to them!

Turning to Nubian projects, any past project that didn't coordinate with them failed despite significant efforts. One such example is the Toshka Project, aimed at creating job opportunities and expanding agricultural land. However, it faced massive logistical challenges, leading to its failure. Post-2011, the situation changed; foreign ownership was halted, and contracts with foreigners were annulled following the revolution.

In the early days of President Sisi's rule, there were proposals for developing Nubian lands, recognizing their fertile soil and gold reserves—the word 'Nubia' in the Nubian language means 'land of gold.' A constitutional provision was added to ensure that any development would directly involve the Nubian people, acknowledging historical injustices. However, economic challenges and inflated promises by those in power often delayed or halted these plans, ultimately requiring the state to sell assets to manage financial crises.

As for the allegations by some that the global powers support the Nubian uprising because of the area's rich gold resources, accounting for 20% of the world's gold, it's considered a conspiracy by many. If true, why would the area be opened to Arab and foreign investors for 30 years, potentially exhausting all its gold?

In conclusion, all respect to the noble Nubians. Despite the state's firm control, they've stood up to declare that their land is not for sale. The responsibility now falls on those who previously supported the regime's land sales, especially after the courts have had their say, praising the leader as knowing better. Shame on them all.