Cairo, July 07 (Darfur24)
Human Rights Watch has warned that thousands of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, including many Sudanese, face the risk of arbitrary detention and deportation because of long delays in obtaining or renewing residency permits.
In a new report, the organization said Egypt’s new asylum law could leave tens of thousands without legal protection. It urged the government to introduce a multi-year transition period in coordination with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
The report stated that the number of registered refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt increased by 281% between 2022 and May 2026, reaching over 1.1 million. More than one million are Sudanese. Around 160,000 people are still waiting to complete registration.
Human Rights Watch said some refugees have appointments to obtain or renew residency permits as late as 2028. Until then, many remain without a valid legal status.
The organization said the lack of residency limits access to education and public services. It also prevents many refugees from reporting crimes because some police stations refuse complaints from people without valid residency documents.
The report documented cases of refugees and asylum seekers being arrested despite carrying UNHCR documents. It said Egyptian authorities have detained many refugees, especially Sudanese, and deported some without proper legal procedures or individual risk assessments.
Former detainees described overcrowded detention centres with poor food, limited drinking water, and inadequate ventilation. They also said asylum seekers were held with criminal suspects.
Human Rights Watch called on Egypt to amend its asylum law. It urged authorities to prevent arbitrary detention, uphold the principle of non-refoulement, and stop penalizing refugees for administrative delays.