Lens-Stories | Bedouins

After the Arab spring and the Egyptian revolution, the Sinaï desert saw as series of destabilizing events : assault on police forces, destruction of gas pipelines supplying Israel, kidnappings. These events reminded the world of the strategic importance of the Sinaï desert in the Middle-East because of its connection to Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. With the end of the Mubarak's regime and the weakening of the Egyptian government influence and control in this region, Islamic and independents movements expanded their influences.

Bedouins, literally "those from the desert", are the original inhabitants of this region. The first tribes settled there centuries ago and have been herding camels, cattles and goats. They are one of the rare desert dwellers of the planet and illustrate the qualities of endurance and tenacity of humans to adapt and survive in extreme conditions. The Bedus have seen empires coming and going through history with little effect on their nomadic way of life. Until recently.

Those from the desert

The spirit of the clan demands unconditional loyalty to fellow clansmen and a strong belief in his tribal superiority in return to the tribal security - the support to survive in hostile environment

Bedouins live in an aristocratic society in which an individual's identity is strongly linked to his family, clan and tribe and tribe confederation.

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Bedouin ( بَدَوِي,)