June 19, 2024 (Cairo, Egypt) – Amnesty International issued a scathing report on Wednesday detailing the Egyptian authorities’ campaign of mass arrests and unlawful deportations of Sudanese refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The report, titled “Handcuffed like dangerous criminals”: Arbitrary detention and forced returns of Sudanese refugees in Egypt,” reveals that thousands of refugees have been rounded up and forcibly returned to Sudan, an active conflict zone, without due process or the opportunity to claim asylum.
“It is unfathomable that Sudanese women, men, and children seeking safety in Egypt are being met with mass arrests and inhumane detention conditions before being unlawfully deported,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International. The organization estimates that 3,000 people were deported to Sudan from Egypt in September 2023 alone.
The report documents the harrowing experiences of 27 Sudanese refugees who were arbitrarily arrested and detained in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, including warehouses and horse stables. Detainees were denied access to adequate healthcare and legal assistance. At least 14 refugees were even arrested from public hospitals while receiving treatment for injuries sustained during their journeys from Sudan.
Following the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, large numbers of civilians have been forced to Egypt and other neighbouring countries in search of safety. According to the UN Refugee Agency (HCR), there are 367,147 registered Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers as of the end of May 2024. However, estimates suggest the number of Sudanese refugees is over 500,000 people.
Amnesty International’s findings are based on interviews with detained refugees, their relatives, community leaders, lawyers, and medical professionals, as well as a review of official statements, documents, and audiovisual evidence. The Egyptian ministries of defence and interior did not respond to Amnesty International’s requests for comment, and the Egyptian National Council of Human Rights rejected the report’s findings.
The organization is calling on Egyptian authorities to immediately cease the mass arrests and deportations and uphold their obligations under international human rights and refugee law. They also urge the EU to reassess its cooperation with Egypt on migration and border control, given the country’s abysmal human rights record.
“By cooperating with Egypt in the migration field without rigorous human rights safeguards, the EU risks complicity in Egypt’s human rights violations,” said Hashash. “The EU must press Egyptian authorities to protect refugees and migrants and halt or suspend cooperation immediately if there are risks or reports of abuses.”
The report’s release comes ahead of World Refugee Day, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect the rights and safety of those fleeing conflict and persecution.
