‘Expel them all’: Anti-migrant campaign surfaces in Egypt

Around 180 million people worldwide live outside of their native countries, according to estimates by the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in 2020. In numerous states, the proper application of human rights norms for non-citizens is either insufficient or notably deficient, particularly in the case of irregular migrants. There has been a noticeable rise in widespread hostility, abuse, and violence directed towards migrants and other non-nationals across the globe in recent years. In Egypt, a campaign has been launched against the rapidly increasing numbers of migrants and refugees due to the unrest in the Middle East. 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates the current number of international migrants living in Egypt at 9 million people from 133 countries, with the largest groups being Sudanese (4 million), Syrians (1.5 million), Yemenis (1 million), and Libyans (1 million).

Migrants and high real estate rents 

The anti-migrant campaign has specifically targeted the Sudanese and Syrians, accusing them of causing an increase in real estate rent and selling prices. Shahd Khamis affirmed that the surge in the number of Syrian and Sudanese refugees is the primary factor behind the recent spike in rental prices, posting on X, “My aunt resides in Abdeen, Cairo. She informed me that rental rates have doubled, leading landlords to dismiss existing tenants and replace them with migrants willing to pay higher rents.”

On the other hand, Ola, a Sudanese women living in Cairo, told Jusoor Post that, according to her experience, many landlords in Egypt normally prefer not to rent their properties to Syrian and Sudanese people in particular.

“When I first came to Egypt with my family, we encountered difficulties in securing rental accommodation, as numerous landlords refused, citing concerns that migrants tend to have extended families and may reside together in large numbers within the same property,” she said.

At the same time, Ola pointed out that since the onset of the ongoing war in Sudan, a significant number of Sudanese individuals came to Egypt, purchased properties and are currently renting them at exorbitant prices.

Prioritize Egyptians 

Jusoor Post interviewed one of the activists leading the campaign to clarify its objectives. The activist, who preferred not to be named, stated, “We have 9 million foreigners in Egypt, with 95% classified as migrants and 5% as refugees. Migrants, who are not a financial burden on the country, pay for their accommodations in dollars, and the government does not fund their education or medical services. Despite the relatively low costs of these services, these residents pose a threat to our society's fabric, altering our community's identity with their beliefs and traditions. Furthermore, they compete with citizens for job opportunities and investment prospects. In the midst of Egypt's economic challenges, residents are occupying positions that should be prioritized for Egyptians. We need regulations that give Egyptians precedence in jobs, investment opportunities, and university admissions.”

Citizenship regulation

The activist clarified that another objective of the campaign is scrutiny of the recent expansion in obtaining Egyptian citizenship. The activist expressed strong disapproval, stating, “I consider this expansion a scandal. I understand that Egypt is in urgent need of foreign currency, but a country with the historical significance of Egypt, being the oldest civilization in the world, should not sell its citizenship merely for financial gain.”

In May 2023, Egypt declared the opportunity for foreigners to obtain Egyptian citizenship through various means, including purchasing a minimum of $300,000 worth of real estate, investing $350,000 in the country, depositing $500,000 in an Egyptian bank account, or making a non-refundable $250,000 deposit in direct revenues in foreign currency into the state's public treasury.

‘Expel the refugees’

While the activist's demands are open for discussion, the online campaign has escalated beyond reasonable bounds. Hostile hashtags like #Deportation_of_Refugees_is_a_National_Duty, #Deportation_of_Refugees_is_a_National_Demand, #Refugee_Resettlement_is_a_Catastrophe, #Close_the_Refugee_Commission_in_Egypt, #Close_the_Commission_and_Expel_the_Refugees, #Against_the_Resettlement_and_Naturalization_of_Refugees, #Enough_of_Refugees_in_Egypt_We_are_Disgusted were trending in Egypt recently.

Jusoor Post attempted to engage with accounts frequently using those hashtags, discovering that many of them belong to either new or unnamed users. We opted to reach out to genuine individuals on X, and although some were reluctant to share their perspectives, others agreed to interviews but requested not to be fully named.

Manal, a 44-year-old Egyptian woman, expressed to Jusoor Post her frustration about the growing migrant population, stating, “I understand they come from war-torn countries, but they are making our lives difficult. The recent surge in prices is outrageous. They have occupied spaces in schools, jobs, and housing. While they may be facing the consequences of wars in their home countries, we are also grappling with an economic crisis that their presence is exacerbating.”

“Yes, I want to expel them all,” declared a 36-year-old Egyptian to Jusoor Post, elaborating, “We've reached a point of frustration. Everywhere you go, you hear a different dialect instead of our Egyptian language. It's both a cultural and economic occupation. The government opened the door wide for them, and we will all pay the price.”

He revealed to Jusoor Post that he and his family are actively boycotting Syrian restaurants, stating, “This is a cultural occupation. In every street in Egypt, there is a Syrian shawarma restaurant, while the Egyptian shawarma restaurants, which are more delicious, have disappeared.”

Government response

After the spread of these hashtags, the Egyptian government expressed its rejection of these campaigns. The prime minister’s spokesperson, Mohammed Alhamsani, stated to an Egyptian TV show that the government doesn’t pay any attention to the campaigns, confirming that “everyone knows the extent of generosity the Egyptian people possess.”

At the same time, Egypt's government announced plans to begin documenting the country's refugees and immigrants to better identify and consolidate the benefits the state gains in return for the services provided to immigrants and refugees.

What do migrants and refugees face on the ground?

On the ground, Eman, a Syrian immigrant living in Egypt since 2011, told Jusoor Post she hasn’t faced any kind of discrimination lately despite these online campaigns, adding, “The Egyptian people are incredibly welcoming, and I've felt at home among them. Since I began living in Egypt, I haven't encountered discrimination or mistreatment for being Syrian. Additionally, working in an organization focused on children and refugees, I rarely witness significant incidents of mistreatment towards refugees. More commonly, it's incidents of bullying between students in schools.”

On the other hand, Mohammed, an Eritrean refugee in Egypt, told Jusoor Post that he hasn't noticed much change in the attitude of Egyptian people towards refugees amidst the ongoing campaigns. However, he recounted one incident that occurred to him on the Cairo metro. “I was riding the metro with a friend from Eritrea, and as we were seated, an Egyptian woman in the front seat addressed us, asking if we were on vacation. When we said we didn't understand, she remarked, ‘When will you leave our country?! You've made our lives hell and everything expensive.’ I contained the situation by telling her I'm Egyptian from Aswan City, asking why she was shouting at us. She apologized and began complaining about the surge in prices.” Mohammed believes that if he had admitted he isn't Egyptian, the situation could have potentially worsened.

Ola, a Sudanese migrant who arrived shortly after the eruption of the conflict in her homeland, believes she hasn't faced discriminatory situations due to her lighter skin tone, unlike many other Sudanese people. “It's just when I speak in a taxi, they recognize my accent and start complaining that we are the reason behind the price hike,” she told Jusoor Post, emphasizing that her friends and family members have encountered much more challenging situations.

Third party 

Eman believes that these campaigns are not innocent, suspecting that third parties may be responsible for fueling the situation. “As migrants, we pay for the services we receive. My children aren't allowed to attend public schools, so they attend private ones. Many Syrians came to Egypt after the war, invested, and contributed to the Egyptian economy. Meanwhile, refugees, estimated at about 300,000, receive aid from the UN. So, the rationale behind the campaign is not genuine,” she elaborated.

However, Mohamed, Ola, and Eman agreed that if it wasn't for the current economic turmoil in Egypt, these campaigns would not have found a response.