 Human rights group Amnesty International has accused Egypt of carrying out mass arrests and unlawful deportations of thousands of Sudanese refugees fleeing the ongoing war in their home country.
The report, released on June 19, 2024, details disturbing accounts of Egyptian authorities detaining and expelling Sudanese nationals without granting them the opportunity to claim asylum or challenge deportation orders. Amnesty International documented 12 incidents between January and March 2024 where an estimated 800 Sudanese refugees were forcibly returned to Sudan.
Cruel Conditions and Racial Profiling
The report further details the harsh treatment refugees faced in detention. Amnesty International says it documented the cases of 27 Sudanese refugees who were arrested between October 2023 and March 2024. All but one of these individuals were ultimately deported, and all reported being held in cruel and inhuman conditions prior to their expulsion.
The exact number of arrests and deportations remains unclear due to a lack of official data. However, the UN Refugee Agency estimates that thousands of refugees, primarily Sudanese, were deported by Egypt in late 2023.
Egyptian authorities have denied the allegations. Egypt’s State Information Service did not respond to requests for comment, and the National Council for Human Rights rejected Amnesty International’s findings. The Council maintains that Egyptian authorities uphold international law.
Wider Context: War and Displacement
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces, has triggered a massive displacement crisis. Over nine million people have been displaced within Sudan or fled to neighboring countries.
Egypt, a key transit point for refugees fleeing Sudan, has seen a significant influx of Sudanese nationals. Also, the International Organization for Migration estimates that over 500,000 Sudanese refugees, or roughly 24% of those displaced by the war, have crossed into Egypt.
In response to the influx of refugees, Egypt tightened border controls in 2023, suspending a previous agreement that allowed visa-free entry for certain Sudanese demographics. This policy shift, coupled with economic pressures within Egypt, has fueled tensions between some Egyptians and the Sudanese refugee population.
The situation in Egypt is being closely monitored by European nations concerned about potential mass migration across the Mediterranean Sea. However, in March 2024, Egypt and the European Union announced a significant financial partnership, seen by many as a move to bolster border security and prevent a large-scale migration wave.
Source: ReutersÂ
