The Sudanese Refugee in Neighboring Countries: Rejection and Acceptance
Moatinoon – Follow up
In a report prepared by Mona Abdel Fattah about Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries, published by Independent Arabia, various aspects and causes of their hardships within host communities were discussed. The report highlighted numerous concerns, despite the ethnic and linguistic ties shared between Sudanese refugees from northern Sudan and the host communities in Egypt, particularly in Aswan, as well as between refugees from Darfur and Chadian tribes, and between refugees from the Blue Nile region, eastern Sudan, and East African countries.
The United Nations had warned that the number of Sudanese refugees fleeing the ongoing violent conflict had reached a record high in 2024. Mamadou Dia Balde, the UN Coordinator for Refugee Affairs, reported that the number of refugees fleeing Sudan surpassed three million, describing it as a "catastrophe" driven by escalating violence.
The number of refugees residing in Sub-Saharan Africa increased from 2.2 million to 6.3 million. This figure has now doubled due to the current war in Sudan, resulting in significant changes in refugee numbers.
The report noted that the majority of the world’s refugees still live in the Global South, often in countries neighboring their homelands. Little attention is paid to the strain this places on these impoverished countries or the suffering of refugees within their borders. Refugees "do not have a fixed impact; rather, it depends on several factors, especially when their presence coincides with political tensions in the host country. Most Sudanese refugees are in countries that themselves face challenging socio-economic conditions."
The report further stated that in many countries experiencing an influx of refugees due to wars, there is resistance to accepting these refugees for various reasons. These include concerns that their presence could disrupt ethnic balances, contribute to instability, or ignite ethnic conflicts in the host country. Based on the dynamics of ethnic power, another potential threat arises when refugees belong to an ethnic group marginalized in the host country. This was exemplified by the case of Darfur rebels supported militarily by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, who later excluded them for fear they would bolster the demographic and political influence of the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.
In an interview with Independent Arabia, Atem Simon, a social researcher in South Sudan, explained that "the nationalistic sentiment facing Sudanese refugees in host countries may stem from several fears among local citizens, especially since many of these refugees arrive with new skills in various fields of work, particularly those from urban areas with educational backgrounds that serve as influential capital in the labor market."
Simon elaborated, "One of the challenges Sudanese refugees have faced in East African countries is job competition. Local populations often feel that refugees quickly secure employment in many sectors and excel, especially in fields requiring academic qualifications and extensive experience, such as healthcare, construction, and engineering."
The report highlighted a campaign launched in June against the refugee community in Egypt on social media platforms, especially on "X." Posts circulated under slogans referencing ancient Egyptian civilization and nationalistic rhetoric. This campaign was spearheaded by a movement called "Sons of Kemet" or "Kemites" in Egyptian colloquial. The name "Kemet," derived from ancient Egypt, means "the black land," referring to the fertile soil revealed by the Niles annual floods.
The movement promoted hashtags like "Support Egyptian Police Against Refugees," "Go Back to Your Country, Refugee," "Egypt for Egyptians," "Deportation of Refugees is a National Duty," and "Egyptian Students First for Their Universities." The primary targets were Sudanese refugees and migrants, followed by African, Yemeni, and Syrian refugees and migrants, and finally other refugees and migrants in Egypt.
The hostile discourse accused these refugees of exacerbating Egypt’s economic crisis, water scarcity in the Nile, and electricity outages. The campaign resulted in numerous human rights violations against refugees, including racial and ethnic discrimination, as well as verbal and physical assaults.
From her experience as a refugee in Egypt, Sudanese social consultant Fawzia Hussein told Independent Arabia that "the suffering of refugees begins before they arrive in other countries, as they lose their source of security and shelter. The ongoing hardship they face is gaining acceptance from others."
She added, "The social struggles with other nationalities create a sense of displacement, especially when dealing with questions of identity, difference, the need for adaptation, and attempts to comply as a guest who may not have many rights."
Hussein explained, "Sudanese refugees in Egypt do not face significant suffering due to the shared cultural ties between the two countries. However, there are some excesses, such as racial discrimination, treating Sudanese as second-class citizens, inflating the prices of essential goods specifically for refugees, and dealing with them condescendingly as if their presence is an imposition."
She clarified that "these practices are expected, and refugees must adapt to them. They are less severe than the hardships faced by refugees in countries with different cultures, language barriers, or communication challenges.
