Egyptian army displaces northern Sinai residents
Residents of northern Sinai continue to be forcefully evicted from their homes under the pretext of securing the area, while President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is widening the powers of the army.
Residents of el-Arish, the capital of northern Sinai governorate, have been exposed to ongoing attempts by the Egyptian authorities to expel them from their areas, where clashes and armed conflicts have been taking place between the Egyptian army and the Islamic State.
A number of residents told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that security and army forces evacuate buildings and residential areas, as residents are told that they can return home in due course. However, the buildings and homes are destroyed.
The sources added that the local authorities are yet to live up to the promise that residents can return; only some have been provided with a place to sleep in mosques or churches in nearby areas.
While the evacuation takes place on the outskirts of el-Arish, the residents said that the state is giving the armed forces extensive authority over the control of land in the northern Sinai Peninsula.
