Amnesty International has called for immediate cessation of forced deportations and arbitrary detentions of Sudanese refugees by the Egyptian government, according to a new report released on Wednesday. The organization has reported that over 5,000 Sudanese nationals were deported from April to September 2023, with a significant expulsion event of 721 refugees occurring on June 13, mirroring systemic collective expulsions carried out by Egyptian authorities.
Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, Sudanese men, women, and children have faced mass arrests by Egyptian border forces. These refugees are reportedly detained in harsh conditions such as warehouses or horse stables, facing overcrowding, lack of medical care, insufficient food and water, and unsanitary environments. The detainees are being held pending forced returns to Sudan with no opportunity to apply for asylum or legally challenge their deportations, exhibiting serious fair trial violations according to Amnesty International’s findings.
On August 29, 2023, the Egyptian government issued Decree No. 3326 of 2023, allowing migrants the option to regularize their stay by paying $1,000 and late fines. However, subsequent to this decree, human rights organizations documented a surge in systematic arrests, arbitrary detentions, and forcible deportation campaigns against Sudanese refugees across Egypt.
Adding to the controversy, Egypt’s human rights record concerning refugees came into focus despite the European Union’s strategic partnership agreement announced in March 2024. This agreement, worth €7.4 billion, aims to deepen cooperation over migration and border control. However, critics argue that without pressing for genuine human rights reforms, the EU’s financial support could inadvertently facilitate repression.
Amid these developments, more than 25 organizations, including Statewatch, signed a joint statement urging the Egyptian government to halt abuses against Sudanese refugees. The statement calls for an end to inhumane detention conditions, unfair deportation processes, racial profiling, and extortionate payments in exchange for status regularization.