Residents of Giza area forced into displacement
The Egyptian government is expelling residents from their own homes in Giza and Cairo, as part of a campaign to develop and beautify areas.
CAIRO — Mustafa (pseudonym) woke up Jan. 23 to the sounds of tractors as security forces, without prior notice, entered the area where his home is located in Nazlet El-Semman in Giza, amid protests from residents who had no idea what the government was planning.
This comes as part of a new round of forcing people from their homes and demolishing dwellings in different parts of Cairo and Giza, which the government calls “eliminating violations” or “campaigns to develop and beautify Cairo.”
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched these campaigns in 2017 in order to develop several areas across Egypt by removing buildings illegally constructed.
Mustafa told Al-Monitor the details of what happened to the people of Nazlet El-Semman, an area overlooking the pyramids of Giza about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from central Cairo. On the morning of Jan. 23, security forces entered the area with tractors and besieged it, he said, noting that they began to demolish houses near the tourist area where shops sell souvenirs.
