Sudan angry at Egypt's mistreatment of its nationals

Sudan angry at Egypt's mistreatment of its nationals
The Sudanese parliament and the Sudanese embassy in Cairo have both expressed concerns over the mistreatment of Sudanese nationals by Egyptian police and security forces.
2 min read
16 November, 2015
Sudanese nationals in Cairo have complained of mistreatment by the Egyptian police [AFP]

Sudanese MP Mohamed Mustafa al-Daw said on Sunday that Khartoum was expecting clarifications from Egyptian authorities regarding the alleged mistreatment of its nationals by police and security forces in Cairo, Sudan Tribune reported.

Daw, who heads the Foreign Relations subcommittee in the Sudanese parliament, added that the parliament would not hesitate to subpoena the foreign ministry if it turned out to have neglected the matter, given its primary responsibility.

He also emphasised that the media should deal objectively with the situation until facts become clear, especially given Egypt's exceptional circumstances due to its internal situation.

The MP warned that all options were on the table to preserve the dignity of Sudanese nationals in Egypt.

The MP warned that all options were on the table to preserve the dignity of Sudanese nationals in Egypt.

On Thursday, the Sudanese embassy in Cairo submitted a memo to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry inquiring about the recent surge of harassment of Sudanese citizens in Egypt.

The memo pointed out that the mistreatment of Sudanese nationals by Egyptian police and national security had recently increased, adding that conduct was unacceptable and inconsistent with the deep ties and agreements signed between the two nations, particularly the four-freedoms agreement.

In addition, the memo mentioned that there had been frequent complaints by Sudanese travelers who claimed that they had been stopped in Cairo streets by the police, who even seized their money in the process.

Sudan's foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq told reporters on Saturday that the Sudanese embassy in Cairo had clear instructions to look after Sudanese nationals in Egypt and make sure they are treated well.

Sadiq added that Sudan was confident that Egypt's foreign ministry would investigate the issue, stressing that the strong ties between Khartoum and Cairo would enable them to overcome any misunderstanding.

On Sunday, Egyptian police shot dead 15 Sudanese migrants as they tried to cross the Egypt-Israel borders. At least eight were wounded, according to officials in Sinai, while another eight migrants were arrested.