Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decree July 16 to transfer control over the Port of el-Arish and its surrounding buildings, facilities and land in the northern Sinai Peninsula to the armed forces.
Political analysts and economists said the move is mainly aimed at tightening security measures in this area, which has been witnessing terrorist attacks for years, as well as for carrying out developmental projects to serve the area’s residents.