By Sakariyah, Ridwanullah
Have you ever wondered why some people claim to have two or more mothers? Does it even make any sense to say that someone has two biological mothers? Perhaps it’s a case of adoption, death of a mother, or divorce from both parents. But the reverse is the case of Egypt – a country of two motherlands. Egypt is one of the few countries in the world whose landmass spans Africa and Asia, and its geography has sparked a curiosity, and at the same time, shaped the nation’s identity, politics, and influence. The bulk of Egypt (the Nile Valley, the Sahara, the Delta) is in Africa, but east of the Suez Canal lies the Sinai Peninsula, which sits firmly on the Asian plate. Sinai serves as the continent-bridge, which connects two landmasses, and gives Egypt a dual-continental existence that has echoed through history.
Geographically, Egypt is located in Northeast Africa and extends into Southwest Asia through the Sinai Peninsula. The official State Information Service (SIS), Egypt, confirms that the Sinai Peninsula covers about 61,000 km², which is roughly 6 percent of Egypt’s land area. Encyclopedia Britannica notes that Sinai is “usually regarded as being geographically part of Asia.” The Suez Canal, inaugurated on November 17, 1869, runs between Sinai and the rest of Egypt, which makes the Canal both a separator and a connector. Britannica confirms that “The Suez Canal…separates the bulk of Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula.” This, therefore, suffices to say that the Canal physically divides Sinai from Eastern Desert of Egypt, and this reinforces its transcontinental nature. With most of its landmass anchored in Africa and its Sinai Peninsula firmly planted on the Asian plate, Egypt belongs simultaneously to both Africa and Asia.
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Historically, long before the modern borders were built, ancient Egyptians traded across Sinai with what is today known as the Levant, importing cedar and copper from Asia while expanding trade southwards into Africa. Egypt’s pharaohs saw Sinai both as borderland and pathway. During the Ottoman era, the peninsula continued to serve strategic purposes: it was the fringe between Ottoman-ruled lands, African territories, and Persian or Levantine contacts.
When the Suez Canal opened in 1869, it reinforced Egypt’s role as connector of continents; it not only linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea but also made Egypt a central point in global navigation. According to the World Economic Forum, roughly 12 percent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal; about 30 percent of the world’s container traffic also transits this waterway. The canal physically separates Sinai from the rest of Egypt, but in many ways it also joins them economically, politically, and of course, symbolically.
Moving on, Egypt’s dual-continental position has long had political implications. After the 1979 Camp David Accords, Sinai’s return from Israel to Egypt restored full sovereignty over the land bridge. In recent years, Egypt has asserted its identity both as a leader in African forums and as a power in Middle Eastern politics. Egypt is a founding member of the African Union and also a prominent member of the Arab League. Its diplomatic efforts around the Nile Basin, such as negotiations with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, show how deeply intertwined its African and Arab roles are.
Furthermore, cultural heritage contributes significantly to the dual-continental nature of Egypt. For instance, Egypt’s official language is Arabic, and its religious, literary, and societal institutions often align with the Arab world. Egyptian film, music, and media resonate across North Africa, East Africa, and the Middle East. Yet, Egypt is also very African: in the Nile, in the movement of people, in the shared agricultural and environmental concerns with its African neighbours. Sinai sometimes serves as a literal and metaphorical gateway: pilgrims, traders, students pass through it as part of journeys that link Africa to Asia. On the 25th of April, 2022, the current President of Egypt, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, on the 40th anniversary of the Sinai Liberation Day described Sinai as “a source of pride … this precious part of our homeland … engraved in the hearts of all Egyptians.”
Today, Egypt’s location gives it strengths and challenges. The Suez Canal is a vivid example of the strength. Beyond global trade, it is a major source of foreign currency for Egypt. But its strategic value also makes it vulnerable: regional tensions in the Red Sea, disruptions to shipping routes, security risks in Sinai all weigh heavily. In 2024, Egypt’s revenue from the Suez Canal dropped sharply, from a historic high to a much lower figure, amid threats to maritime traffic. The canal continues to handle a large share of global trade, but its performance is sensitive to geopolitics.
Interestingly enough, Egypt’s bi-continental identity has drawn the attention of scholars and policymakers alike. Egyptian military analyst Mohamed Ali Belal once noted that “Sinai is an important political, economic and strategic pillar for Egypt, as it is located on the border with Israel and serves as a bridge between Africa and Asia.” This view of his pinpoints the broader reality that Sinai Peninsula is both symbolic and central to Egypt’s survival, carrying resources, security challenges, and opportunities. Even beyond security, Egypt’s position also resonates in diplomacy. Kairat Sarybay, the Executive Director of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), described Cairo as “a unique Afro-Asian state that plays a key role in important international events,” adding that Egypt could act as “an effective bridge of connectivity between Asia and Africa” at a time when global interest in Africa continues to rise.
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On this account, Egypt’s founding geography (its borders, lands, and especially Sinai) still defines much of its trajectory. Straddling two continents means straddling two worlds: it means engaging with multiple regional blocs, managing diverse neighbours, and drawing on an identity that is both African and Asian. In its dual-continental position, Egypt carries history, strategy, culture, and particularly, a unique power to connect.
