Egypt's foreign ministry on Wednesday reiterated its sovereignty over the border region of Halayeb and Shalateen, over which a dispute with neighboring Sudan has lingered for decades.

The Halayeb Triangle region, located on Egypt's southern borders with Sudan and comprising three cities, has been a source of tension between both countries since Sudan gained independence from joint Britain and Egyptian rule in 1956, with rows occurring at times over the right to manage the region's petroleum resources.

On Wednesday, Sudan's supreme electoral committee said Halayeb is among electoral districts of the country's 2015 presidential and parliamentary elections, due in April 2015 – remarks Egypt has swiftly quashed.

Later in the day, foreign ministry spokesperson Bader Abdel-Atty said the "claims" are meant to "incite a rift between Egypt and Sudan," as quoted by Egypt's state news agency MENA.

"Egyptian lands are not subject to retail and Egypt has full sovereignty over its territory," Abdel-Atty said.

It is not the first time that the region has been listed amongst Sudan's constituencies.
Abdel-Atty added that the media's tackling of the issue, whether in Sudan or Egypt, is aimed to disturb relations between the two states.

Cairo currently exercises control over the territory, inhibited by tribes that trace their roots to both Sudan and Egypt. The triangle comprises the cities of Halayeb, Abu Ramad and Shalateen.