Basic Human Rights for Eritrean Refugees Ignored by Egyptian Officials
Large numbers of Eritrean refugees in Egypt are facing arrest, detention, and deportation, with no protection from authorities. Reports indicate that over 150 Eritreans have already been forcibly returned to Eritrea, where they face grave dangers. The arrests continue, and many more remain at risk. Disturbingly, Egyptian authorities appear to be secretly collaborating with the Eritrean Embassy to secure travel documents for these forced deportations.
Egypt is a signatory to key international and regional legal instruments that prohibit the forced return of refugees, including the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. All of these agreements enshrine the principle of non-refoulement, which forbids the return of individuals to a country where they face serious threats to their life, freedom, or physical integrity. Despite these binding obligations, Egypt has continued to detain and deport Eritrean refugees, including individuals registered with and under the protection of UNHCR, back to Eritrea, where they are at risk of persecution, imprisonment, and torture. These actions represent a grave violation of international refugee and human rights law.
Eritrean refugees in Egypt have a well-founded fear of persecution, imprisonment, torture, and indefinite military conscription, all legitimate grounds for asylum.
Under the Refugee Convention, they have the right not to be punished for illegal entry into another country, such as Egypt, regardless of the means or route by which they arrived.
Ongoing Violations and Disturbing Cases
The rounding up, detention, and forced deportation of Eritrean refugees in Egypt is deeply alarming. Yet the mounting evidence that these actions continue is undeniable. Several documented cases clearly show that this practice persists, even targeting refugees who have lived in Egypt for many years and have established legal status.
- Michael Measho, a registered Eritrean refugee in Egypt since 2016, has been detained for over a month. Reports state that Egyptian security forces took him to the Eritrean Embassy to force him to sign deportation papers.
- A six-year-old child was left alone after his mother was arrested while briefly leaving home to buy bread. She was detained and forcibly deported, leaving her child orphaned and in the care of friends.
- Temesgen Mehari, a 24-year-old Eritrean refugee, had been living in Egypt since 2017. He was detained in Aguza Prison in December 2024 and later died in custody under unknown circumstances. Egyptian authorities informed his family of his death on 16 February, 2025.
Urgent Appeal to the Egyptian Government and International Community
Human Rights Concern Eritrea urgently calls on the Egyptian Government to:
- Immediately halt the forced deportation (refoulement) of Eritrean refugees.
- Uphold its legal commitments under the Refugee Convention and ensure the safety and rights of asylum seekers.
- Release all detained Eritrean refugees and grant them access to the UNHCR and legal protection.
We also call on all signatories of the Refugee Convention to demand compliance from the Egyptian Government and ensure these fundamental human rights are upheld.
Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)
