Egypt shows no signs of slowing its crackdown on refugees

The Egyptian authorities are using a combination of expired deadlines and slow processing by the UN Refugee Agency to target refugees seeking asylum. The government is instilling fear, carrying out deportations, and arresting refugees, particularly those with darker skin. This crackdown started with a decree requiring undocumented foreign nationals to pay $1,000 to regularize their status, resulting in widespread human rights violations.

Despite confusion about deadlines, refugees and Sudanese nationals have been exempt from the payments, with multiple extensions granted. The Egyptian government’s tactics aim to make life harder for refugees, who are being used as leverage in negotiations with the EU for financial assistance.

Deportations are on the rise, with refugees facing challenges in renewing their status due to a backlog at the UNHCR. The government’s harsh treatment of migrants is fueled by racist rhetoric, with refugees from Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia facing discrimination and deportations without due process.

In the midst of economic crises and political tensions, the situation for refugees and undocumented people in Egypt continues to worsen. The EU’s support for Egypt to curb migration is criticized as a cash-for-control deal that could lead to further human rights abuses.

Journalist Lara Gibson is closely monitoring these developments and provides insight into the challenges faced by migrants in Egypt.