Shalateen (Arabic: شلاتين Šalatayn pronounced [ʃælæˈteːn]; also spelt Shalatin and Shalatayn) is the biggest town in the Halaib Triangle, a disputed territory claimed by both Egypt and Sudan. It is located 520 km (320 mi) south of Hurghada. It is controlled as the administrative centre (markaz) of all Egyptian territory up to the border between Egypt and Sudan, including the villages of:
- Abu Ramad, 125 km (78 mi) to the southeast;
- Halaib, 165 km (103 mi) to the southeast;
- Ras Hadarba is 200 km (120 mi) to the southeast. Ras Hadarba or Cape Hadarba lies on the shores of the Red Sea to the southeast of the city of Halayib and to the east of mount Hadarba from which it takes its name. The village of Ras Hadarba lies just north of the borders between Egypt and Sudan, which run along the 22-degree north parallel of latitude;
- Marsa Hameera, 40 km (25 mi) to the north; and
- Abrak, 90 km (56 mi) to the west.
The first three of the above towns (Abu Ramad, Halayib and Ras Hadarba) are located within the disputed Hala’ib Triangle.
Location of Shalateen town
Shalateen is the most southern city of the Red Sea Governorate near the border line between Egypt and Sudan.
History of Shalateen city
Egyptian ministries and authorities are in the process of establishing their presence in the area and operating in conjunction with the City Council to provide services to the local communities according to the policies and programs of their respective organizations. The military is responsible for security and law enforcement in the Halayib Triangle. Red Sea Governorate‘s Popular Council, including many members from the Bishari tribe and the Ababda people, are responsible for determining what the local people need and supporting local participation in the management and development of this area.
The Egyptian government also provides additional social services to the local communities, such as food, water, monetary assistance, subsidies, health care, veterinary care, housing and education. A new international airport in Marsa Alam was built, about 270 kilometres (170 mi) from Shalateen city. Egyptian policymakers intend to be the centre of more development for the southern region, including the Shalateen area.
Climate
Köppen-Geiger’s climate classification system classifies Shalateen city climate as a hot desert (BWh).
Ethnography
Local tribes in Halayib and Shalateen area had little exposure to modernization under Sudanese and Egyptian administrations up to 1992. But after 1992, the Egyptian government started to implement a development plan when it began to build some settlements, including 500 new houses built in Shalateen city and 250 in Aboramad and Halayib, depending on Shalateen local council sources. Roads were also established, including a 250-kilometre road between Shalateen and Marsa Alam town in the north, and three new electricity generators have begun operation since 1993. In 1993–94, the Egyptian government launched a plan for the social-economic development of the area. Services and economic support were delivered in the main towns and villages, and necessary infrastructures were built. Financial and in-kind donations were sponsored for a total amount of 1.5 billion L.E. currently; the government is supporting local families with 70 L.E. per month and 3 L.E. per day for each child going to school. Nowadays, many highly educated people, and many local people, work as government employees, NGOs and private sector companies.
Depending on that and the government development policy, many people from the mountains moved to towns to benefit from these services. They were given houses with a permanent water source, food supplies, electricity and education. As a result of the plan, communities in the urban areas have improved their livelihood. So far, approximately 8,000 people have settled along the coast.
The local community in the Halayib area has been involved in the management of the Gabal Elba Protected Area as guides and as environmental researchers in the management and conservation of the natural resources of this area; local people are also involved in the decision-making process. The World Food Program project in this area, “Support Bedouin Life Project”, represents a good model for the Egyptian government’s policy of local participation and community-based management of projects.
