Fleeing War, Finding Uncertainty: The Challenges Faced by Sudanese Refugees in Egypt

Background

During the early twentieth century, Sudan was a protectorate of Egypt (in the north) and the United Kingdom (in the south), known as the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium. But, in 1956, the Republic of Sudan declared independence after Egypt and the United Kingdom relinquished their sovereignty. However, at this time, there was a stark divide between the northern region (wealthier, Muslim majority) and the southern region (less developed and Christian majority. This difference resulted in two civil wars, one from 1955 to 1972 and the other between 1983 and 2005. The second civil war killed approximately two million people, with widespread human rights violations and in 2011, Sudan’s southern territory seceded and formed the Republic of South Sudan (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker). 

More recently, on 15 April 2023, another civil war broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its allies (the Janjaweed coalition). Most fighting has been concentrated around Khartoum (the capital city) and the Darfur region. According to the UNHCR, there are 12.7 million forcibly displaced people from Sudan. 8.6 million people are displaced within Sudan, while three million people identify as either refugees or asylum seekers. The majority of those hosted abroad currently live in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, and Uganda. The largest number of these have fled to Egypt (UNHCR). 

Source: UNHCR Operational Data

Egyptian Refugee Law

The UNHCR has been present in Egypt since 1954. Today, there are 941,625 registered refugees and asylum seekers from 61 nationalities. However, the IOM estimates that there are 9 million refugees in the country. Most refugees originate from Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia and Iraq. UNHCR has provided protection services, including registration, documentation, refugee status determination and resettlement. In 1980, Egypt adopted the Refugee Convention as domestic law, and later, the Egyptian Constitution of 2014 protected refugees and asylum seekers. But, the only protections are under Article 90, which states, “The State may grant political asylum to any foreigner persecuted for defending the interests of people, human rights, peace or justice,” and only focuses on political refugees (Refugee Context in Egypt – UNHCR Egypt). 

However, on December 16, 2024, Egypt published its first-ever asylum law amidst strong opposition from NGOs and international organisations. The law came after the European Union and Egypt signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which allocated a €200 million grant to address migration issues in the country and curb irregular migration to Europe. The new law provides protections for existing individuals granted refugee status by the Standing Committee for Refugees' Affairs (SCRA), including new applicants and existing refugees (Cone & Sullivan, 2025). The SRCA will take over from the UNHCR and oversee processing and adjudicating refugee applications, coordinating with international organisations, including the UNHCR, and facilitating refugee resettlement in third countries. While some organisations have hailed the law as progressive, others have noted that it “restricts the right to seek asylum, lacks due process guarantees and shifts the responsibility for registering asylum seekers and determining their refugee status from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the Egyptian government.” 

Sudanese Refugees in Egypt

Since October 2023, Sudanese refugees have become the majority of the refugee population in the country, comprising 71% of the total population. Currently, there are 672,930 registered Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR Egypt. Egypt has become the largest Sudanese refugee host in the world. The UNHCR estimates that since April 2023, 1.5 million people have crossed the border into Egypt. Most Sudanese reach Egypt using its southern border with Sudan, while a few others arrive through flights from Port Sudan. There are also smuggling networks along the route because of Egypt’s tight border restrictions. Even though most refugees cross into Egypt using its southern border, most choose to settle north of the county, in Cairo (Cone & Sullivan, 2025).

Sudanese refugees settle in Egypt because of the strong cultural ties between the two countries, making the transition. They speak the same language, and the majority religion – Sunni Muslim- is the same. There are no refugee camps, so refugees are free to move about. The proximity of Egypt to Sudan is also ideal because, given that things improve back in Sudan, the refugees can easily return to their homes and family members can be united without stress. 

Current situation

While Egypt has long been considered an ideal country for resettlement by Sudanese refugees due to its cultural and geographical proximity, its arbitrary laws and policies have created a precarious environment, making it difficult for refugees to feel secure. Sudanese refugees in Egypt face significant challenges, including limited access to legal protection, leaving them vulnerable to arrest, detention, and deportation. The lack of robust safeguards and inconsistent application of refugee laws have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear.

The situation is further complicated by the Egyptian government's handling of refugee deportations. According to Amnesty International UK, in November 2023, Egypt deported approximately 1,600 Sudanese people, including registered refugees, sparking concerns about the country's commitment to protecting refugee rights (Cone & Sullivan, 2025). This incident highlights the need for clearer guidelines and more effective safeguards to prevent arbitrary deportations.

Moreover, the growing influx of refugees has led to increasing hostility from the Egyptian community. As more Sudanese refugees continue to arrive, fleeing the ongoing conflict in their home country, tensions have risen, making it challenging for refugees to integrate into Egyptian society. Many refugees report feeling isolated, marginalized, and excluded from essential services, further exacerbating their vulnerability.

The decline in global foreign aid has also had a devastating impact on refugees in Egypt. The UNHCR has been forced to shut down vital programs, including medical treatment and child protection services, leaving refugees without access to essential support. The funding shortfall is particularly concerning, given that UNHCR Egypt is already underfunded, having received only half the necessary funds to implement its projects fully last year.

The new global aid debates have increased uncertainty for Sudanese refugees in Egypt, who are struggling to make ends meet. The lack of financial support makes it difficult for most refugees to support their families, particularly in the context of Egypt's self-settlement policies, which require refugees to fend for themselves without adequate assistance. Many refugees are forced to rely on informal networks and coping mechanisms, which can be unreliable and unsustainable.

To address these challenges, it is essential to provide more effective support to Sudanese refugees in Egypt, including increased funding for essential services, improved access to legal protection, and enhanced community engagement to promote social cohesion and understanding. By working together, we can create a more supportive environment that allows refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity.





Photo by Mohamed Tohami on Unsplash

References

UNHCR Operational Data Portal. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://data.unhcr.org/

Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker. (n.d.). Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/power-struggle-sudan

Cone, D., & Sullivan, D. P. (2025). No Model of Refuge: Sudanese Refugees in Egypt. Relief International. https://d3jwam0i5codb7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Egypt-Report-Feb-2025-FINAL.pdf

Refugee Context in Egypt – UNHCR Egypt. (n.d.). UNHCR. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.unhcr.org/eg/about-us/refugee-context-in-egypt

Sudan Crisis Explained. (n.d.). USA for UNHCR. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.unrefugees.org/news/sudan-crisis-explained/ UNHCR. (2025, March 26). Funding cuts threaten the lives of Sudanese refugees in Egypt. USA for UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency. https://www.unrefugees.org/news/funding-cuts-threaten-the-lives-of-sudanese-refugees-in-egypt/

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