The Sinai Peninsula holds a unique strategic and political significance for Egypt and its neighbours. Enclosed by the Suez Canal and bordering Gaza and Israel, Egypt's rugged eastern province has been the cornerstone of the Egyptian-Israeli peace accords, yet its internal politics and security have remained largely under media blackout. While the international press descended on the capital Cairo in January 2011, Sinai's armed rebellion was largely ignored. The regime lost control of the peninsula in a matter of days and since then, unprecendented chaos has reigned. In this crucial analysis, Mohannad Sabry argues that Egypt's shortsighted approach to national security has continually proven to be a failure.