Key facts
- Sudanese refugees in Egypt report experiencing beatings, extortion, and overcrowded conditions in detention.
- Thousands of refugees and migrants have been detained by plain-clothes security officers since late last year.
- Over 5,500 people have been deported from Egypt since November, a sharp increase from previous years.
- At least three Sudanese refugees have died in Egyptian custody this year, with unverified reports of nine deaths.
- Human rights groups call the crackdown unprecedented and a breach of international obligations.
- Egypt's government asserts deportations follow legal procedures and denies a broad anti-refugee campaign.
Sudanese refugees seeking safety in Egypt are reportedly facing severe abuses in detention facilities and a surge in deportations, contradicting Egypt's image as a haven. Al-Nazir Al-Sadig, an 18-year-old student, died of pneumonia in a Cairo jail after allegedly suffering beatings and extortion, according to friends and relatives.
Lawyers and human rights groups describe a sweeping crackdown on refugees, with thousands detained in unmarked vehicles since late last year. This campaign, involving plain-clothes security officers, has led to thousands of deportations, a stark increase from previous years. Egypt's government, facing economic challenges and anti-migrant sentiment, has adopted a stricter stance.
Reuters documented three fatalities of Sudanese refugees in overcrowded prisons this year, with security officials citing a total of nine deaths in custody. Former detainees described severe overcrowding, beatings, and assaults for basic necessities. An Eritrean refugee reported a sexual assault by fellow inmates.
Karim Ennarah of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights called the crackdown "unprecedented" and a violation of Egypt's international legal obligations regarding refugee protection. However, Egypt's State Information Service stated that deportations follow legal procedures and denied a broad campaign against refugees, highlighting that millions of Sudanese and other migrants live and benefit from public services in Egypt.
Despite a new asylum law granting refugees the right to work and seek education, critics argue it provides insufficient protection against refoulement, the forcible return of refugees to dangerous territories. UNHCR has expressed concern over the arrests and deportations, particularly of women and children, and stated that returns to Sudan are unsafe due to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Refugees like Hosna, a 40-year-old teacher, fear arrest and deportation, with some opting to return to war-torn Sudan rather than risk separation from their families. The situation highlights the precarious position of refugees in Egypt, caught between the desire for safety and the realities of detention and deportation.