In recent developments, Egypt faces significant scrutiny due to the arbitrary arrest and deportation of refugees and asylum seekers whose permits have expired, as reported by Human Rights Watch. The majority impacted are individuals from Sudan and South Sudan, regions currently mired in conflict. Sudan continues to endure a prolonged civil war, now in its fourth year, while South Sudan grapples with renewed violence.
At the heart of the issue in Egypt lies a complicated legal situation. In 2024, the Egyptian government passed an asylum law intended to shift asylum responsibilities from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the national government. However, this transition remains incomplete, leading to substantial backlog issues. Individuals facing permit expirations are being given renewal timelines as distant as 2028. Consequently, this staggering delay is reportedly causing thousands of arrests among refugees and asylum seekers across the country, according to Human Rights Watch.
The asylum law also raises human rights concerns, notably the absence of the non-refoulement principle, which is a cornerstone of international refugee law. This principle prohibits the expulsion of individuals to countries where they risk facing torture or other inhumane treatment. Despite being a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which mandates compliance with non-refoulement and ensures due process rights including access to courts, Egypt’s current practices appear misaligned with these obligations. The Convention specifies that refugees should not face penalties due to their unauthorized entry if fleeing threats to life or freedom.
Egypt hosts over a million refugees and introduced the 2024 law in a bid to manage illegal immigration and disrupt smuggling networks. Its introduction came amid rising migration pressures globally and challenges faced by European nations addressing their own refugee crises. Despite initial commendations for potential pathways to citizenship and reductions in employment restrictions, the law’s implementation has stalled, further exacerbating the challenges faced by refugees.
The situation highlights broader policy and humanitarian concerns in the region. The backlog and arrests have drawn the attention of the international community and underscore the critical need for swift and effective policy action to uphold the rights and safety of refugees. These developments have focused criticism on Egypt’s current approach and emphasized the urgent necessity for adherence to internationally recognized legal protections for refugees.