Editorial: Voluntary Return from Egypt

By: Muawad Mustafa Rashid

Egypt was the main safe haven for the Sudanese who fled Sudan’s war, as it is hosting huge numbers of Sudanese refugees for almost two years.

Nowadays, and after the liberation of most of the RSF controlled areas, including greater Khartoum, the Sudanese in Egypt are rushing in a, voluntary return program to go back to Sudan.

The Abu Simbel crossing is witnessing an unprecedented congestion of buses and Sudanese travelers returning from Egypt, with the number of returnees doubling after the Eid al-Fitr holiday. This congestion has delayed the arrival of returnees to their country, with many travelers waiting for more than three days to complete their journey.

This crisis coincides with the increasing demand for group trips from Cairo and Aswan, which are supported by national and charitable initiatives.
Despite the efforts of the Egyptian authorities to facilitate the return of those who violated residency regulations or entered Egypt illegally, the Abu Simbel crossing faces restrictions related to ferry capacity and schedules.
It is high time for the Sudanese and Egyptian authorities to increase cooperation and provide additional facilities, including the use of all thevcrossings and facilitating the issuance of emergency travel documents, to relieve pressure on the crossings and facilitate the return of those stranded.