Egyptian authorities have reportedly escalated their crackdown on Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers, following the recent victories of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Over the weekend, nearly two dozen Sudanese nationals were detained in Cairo and Giza as they gathered to celebrate the SAF’s reclaiming of the strategic city of Wad Madani.
The majority of arrests took place in Cairo’s Ain Shams neighborhood and the Faisal district of Giza, both of which house significant Sudanese communities. The arrests were reportedly driven by fears of political mobilization.
A senior security source, speaking to The New Arab on condition of anonymity, stated that Egyptian authorities have been monitoring Sudanese, Palestinian, and Syrian nationals involved in political activities, including online celebrations of military victories.
“State security has been instructed to detain or deport individuals with political affiliations contrary to the Egyptian regime,” the source revealed, adding that authorities were particularly concerned about Sudanese nationals interacting with Egyptian activists or participating in protests marking the 14th anniversary of the 2011 January Revolution.
The crackdown comes amidst growing public discontent in Egypt, where an economic crisis and an ongoing human rights crackdown under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have sparked fears of rising unrest.
Security agencies are reportedly anxious about the potential for protests, especially given the political instability in neighboring Gaza, Sudan, and Syria.
Though the detentions of Sudanese nationals have not been officially confirmed, human rights groups have expressed alarm over the fate of the refugees, with reports suggesting their whereabouts and legal status remain unclear.
Egypt currently hosts around 1.2 million Sudanese refugees who fled the civil war that erupted in Sudan in April 2023.
Forced deportations have intensified in recent weeks, with many Sudanese refugees facing expulsion despite having legal status in Egypt.
Reports indicate that authorities have imposed stricter border controls and are actively preventing Sudanese nationals from entering the country, even halting visa issuance for Sudanese, Palestinian, and Syrian nationals.
“Many of us stay at home and rely on local friends for food and medicine because we fear deportation,” one Sudanese refugee from Aswan shared. “If anyone is seen by security or informants, they risk being arrested and deported immediately.”
Recent reports from Sudanese media have highlighted the inhumane conditions faced by deported refugees, including being held in unofficial detention centers on the border.
These findings have sparked outrage on social media, echoing previous testimony from rights groups documenting violations of refugees’ rights.
In the midst of this crackdown, Egyptian authorities have not officially commented on their deportation policies, nor have they provided statistics on the number of Sudanese detained or expelled.
Additionally, last month, President Sisi ratified Egypt’s first asylum law, which has raised concerns among rights groups.
The law establishes a permanent refugee committee under the Egyptian prime minister’s office to handle asylum applications, replacing the UN refugee agency’s oversight, which critics argue may limit protections for refugees fleeing conflict zones.
This tightening of controls over refugees, particularly those from Sudan, highlights the broader challenges facing Egypt as it grapples with both internal dissent and regional instability.
The future of Sudanese refugees in Egypt remains uncertain as authorities continue to enforce stringent measures aimed at preventing political mobilization and maintaining domestic control.