Clashes in Al-Waraq: 90,000 Residents Reject Forced Eviction
Security forces and government bodies push forward with the 17.5-billion-pound “Horus City” project on Al-Waraq Island as 90,000 residents resist eviction amid legal disputes, daily tensions, and contested land ownership
Clashes have renewed in recent days inside Al-Waraq Island between security forces and a number of residents, following new demolition campaigns carried out in different parts of the island amid escalating tension rooted in the longstanding dispute over land ownership and government development plans. Some inner streets witnessed running battles after security forces attempted to enter areas they described as containing “illegal” buildings, while residents considered the attempt “a new bid to impose eviction” in favor of the government development project announced years ago. The confrontations resulted in minor injuries among residents, according to their accounts.
Several residents of Al-Waraq Island say the renewed tension of recent weeks stems from what they view as official attempts to reopen the development file and reorganize property ownership on the island, accompanied by security movements and surveying operations that residents say are being conducted before any comprehensive plan guaranteeing their rights is settled. They add that meetings held with their representatives have not yet led to final understandings, despite the continued daily presence of government committees on the ground.
A number of residents explain that the sudden appearance of “committees supported by police vehicles and a loader creates daily tension,” as people fear that the measurements represent a first step toward forcing them to leave their homes before any clear alternative is agreed upon. They stress that they “do not reject development,” but insist on their right to remain on the island in homes they have built over decades, emphasizing that leaving before receiving an adequate alternative “would mean the displacement of dozens of families,” especially since most depend on livelihoods tied to the nature of life on the island such as trade, agriculture, and fishing. Others point out that the presence of security checkpoints at the ferries and entry points makes residents’ daily movement more difficult and places them under constant psychological pressure, in addition to the fear caused by repeated clashes that leave casualties, injuries, and a state of panic inside homes.
Why Have the Clashes Renewed Recently?
Sayed Mohamed, a cassation lawyer and one of the family representatives on the island, explains in exclusive statements to Zawia3 the details of the recent meetings, the residents’ concerns and conditions, how the latest clashes began, and what they see as fair solutions that safeguard their rights.
Mohamed says that the file is currently being managed by security bodies, specifically the National Security Agency in coordination with the Giza governorate. He explains in his interview with Zawia3 that “security officials hold meetings with residents of Al-Waraq Island and try to contain any crisis. Since 2017 until now, we see that the state seeks to take over the largest possible share of land on the island, not the entire area, while the residents only ask for stability, the right to remain, and to benefit from any development concerning the island.” He notes that “in recent months, the state established the Al-Waraq Island Authority, which has been carrying out land purchases on the island that are supposedly ‘voluntary.’ Yet at the same time, fixed security forces remain at the island’s entrances, exits, and ferry points, which creates psychological pressure on some residents, especially the elderly and women. Despite this, residents of the island cling to their homes and land.”
He continues: “We have always proposed clear solutions. We want to preserve 300 feddans inside the island, similar to the ‘Build Your House’ project, so that we move to stable housing without leaving the island at all. After that, the state can take the remaining area without dispute. But any proposal we present is met with shifting responses. Sometimes they raise prices, other times they propose alternative housing, then they talk about replacement units inside the island… none of these options meet the real interests of the residents.”
He adds: “Weeks ago, security began stepping back slightly to allow meetings with residents, beginning with a group of young people, traders, and those working in real estate. Then we were invited, as family representatives, to a meeting attended by a representative of the National Security Agency and the head of the Al-Waraq Island Authority. They said the state was presenting a positive solution for the first time.”
During the meeting, the head of the authority presented satellite images of the residential block and drew a yellow line outlining an area between 250 and 300 feddans, saying it would remain stable and untouched, with all sales and purchases halted within it. He confirmed that the state had purchased about 100 feddans inside this block, which would be left as open space for public services and the construction of alternative housing, according to Mohamed.
The cassation lawyer and family representative adds: “We asked them: what about the remaining residents outside this block? They said they would benefit from alternative housing inside the island. But how? They said: a resident sells his house, then we allocate alternative units equal in number to the units in his house, and issue him allocation contracts specifying the delivery date, provided that he sells his house first. The price of these units would be determined by the Al-Waraq Island Authority at that time, without reference to the price they paid residents when buying land on the island. We told them that someone who owns a house of four or five floors cannot receive just a few apartments in return. Nor can he leave his home and live in rented accommodation for two years until receiving his unit. So we presented a clear formula: whoever wants an apartment should receive it immediately in exchange for his current apartment, with the same size and price, and move in directly without leaving the island for even an hour.” He adds: “As for those who want to remain in houses rather than apartments, we requested that 70 feddans of the 100 empty feddans inside the residential block be allocated to them, divided in the same manner as the ‘Build Your House’ project, with utilities provided. We said: if the estimates range between 250 and 300 feddans, it makes no difference if the area becomes 320 or 350 feddans, especially since the island’s real size is 1840 feddans, while they use a lower estimate of 1540 feddans.”
He continues: “We asked them to present the proposal to the presidency and the cabinet and to prepare the areas with utilities before any relocation. We asked: what about improving services inside the residential block? Yes, we have electricity and water, but they are weak. They said they would upgrade them similar to the ‘Decent Life’ initiative. We told them: you are not developing the island; you are taking over an empty area for investment to compensate for what you have spent. We are not opposed to the state benefiting, but on the condition that we do not lose our land and our home, especially since alternative housing is not suitable for families who have lived for decades in privately owned homes, not rentals.”
“We built multi-story homes according to our family needs. It is unfair for a complete house to be reduced to two or three units. That means the displacement of families. Whoever wants to leave has that right, but under conditions that protect his legal rights. We asked for residents to be allowed to build within the residential block, but they refused and said: no building permits will be issued, and if we wanted to do so, we would have done it years ago.”
He continues: “After the meeting, I went out and explained to the residents what had happened. The very next day, government committees arrived with police forces, loaders, and surveying equipment. Whenever they approached a plot of land, its owners feared that its ownership would be recorded through satellite imaging, so they protested until the issue was resolved. This is how the current crisis began.”
He adds: “Committees come down daily, and residents block them. They insist on coming, and we do not know their real objective. Still, they arrive in trucks loaded with police officers to secure them. At the site of the clashes, near the police checkpoint, there was an attempt to arrest several young men. They managed to detain only one, who was later released after mediation by residents.”
Regarding injuries, he says: “Yes, there are injuries among residents. Not serious ones, but ranging from minor to moderate. Some are hit by stones, others get small cuts from knives, or birdshot, or effects of tear gas canisters. This has been happening for eight years. Someone may suffer a broken foot or hand or a superficial injury.”
Mohamed stresses at the end of his interview with us: “We are not against any development process. On the contrary, we want to be part of it and to participate with officials in decision-making and expressing our views.” He emphasizes that residents have been suffering for eight years from this situation, and that their parents, elderly people, children, and young people are all affected by this crisis.
He says: “We seek to resolve this crisis through rational, logical, and fair solutions, in accordance with the law and the constitution. We reject any approach promoted by some writers or individuals who do not know the reality of Al-Waraq Island and its residents. We live on our private properties, which are protected by the constitution and the law, and we will not give up our legitimate rights.” He calls on officials to respond to the demands of residents and to “document any agreement in an official decision by the President of the Republic or the Prime Minister, including a detailed plan of what has been agreed upon, so that this crisis ends completely and all parties can enjoy security and guaranteed rights,” as he puts it.
Roots of the Crisis
Al-Waraq Island stretches over an area of roughly 1,400 feddans and lies between Imbaba and Shubra El-Kheima. Its population reaches about 90,000 people according to unofficial estimates. Residents belong to long-established extended families who have inherited the land for decades, and most work in agriculture or in activities linked to river transport and small-scale trade. The island received little government attention until the past two decades, when plans began to emerge for transforming Nile islands into investment attractions.
The roots of the crisis go back to 1998, when a decision was issued designating Al-Waraq as a nature reserve, raising suspicions among residents about government intentions to evacuate the island. Later, in 2001, a new decision by the prime minister placed the island under the State Property Law. From that point on, legal disputes between residents and the state began. In 2017, the crisis escalated when security forces attempted to implement demolition orders based on the premise that the land belonged to the state. This attempt was met with wide popular resistance, during which one resident died from his injuries.
Since then, Al-Waraq has come under heavy security oversight, and attempts at gradual eviction have intensified. Demolition orders were issued, government services were halted, and the entry of construction materials to the island was restricted. At the same time, maps of development projects began circulating, showing the island as the site of an investment city named “Horus,” reinforcing residents’ suspicions that the ultimate goal was to turn the island into a high-end real-estate project.
In 2002, residents won a court ruling in their favor affirming their ownership of the island’s land. In 2010, the government announced the delineation of administrative borders for five governorates, including Giza, which encompassed Al-Waraq, and it drafted a development plan for the island. The situation calmed for several years after the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak (1981–2011).
The government bases its position on the claim that most of the island’s land belongs to state property and that residents do not possess sufficient legal ownership documents. In reality, many residents hold documented sale and purchase contracts dating back to the 1940s, while others possess customary deeds and registered contracts, creating a complex legal dispute over the nature of ownership.
Authorities, for their part, rely on Law No. 7 of 1991 concerning state private property, and Law No. 144 of 2017 regulating the legalization of land tenure. According to observers, these laws form the legal basis for forced eviction if residents do not legalize their status in accordance with state procedures. Residents, however, argue that these laws fail to account for the island’s particularity as a permanent home for deeply rooted families.
For his part, Talaat Khalil, general coordinator of the Civil Democratic Movement and member of the presidential council of the Conservative Party, stresses that the use of harsh methods to pressure Al-Waraq residents into leaving their homes by force is “completely unacceptable.” He points out that the government exerts extensive pressure through various means while neglecting legal issues related to residents’ rights to build, to own their homes, and to resolve other pending matters.
Khalil adds, in his statements to Zawia3, that the government “has followed this approach for years,” arguing that such a method “will not lead to any real solutions,” but will instead deepen the crisis. He stresses that the Civil Democratic Movement rejects “any form of violence against citizens,” and that the government must reconsider its handling of the issue and move toward “fundamental solutions” that protect residents’ rights.
Khalil affirms that the government’s reliance on force in dealing with citizens opens the door to more confrontations and injuries, warning against the continuation of these practices. He emphasizes that the sustained pressure exerted on residents through unlawful and inhumane means will only lead to disastrous consequences, and that finding a fair settlement to the Al-Waraq crisis has become an urgent necessity that can no longer be delayed.
Why Have the Solutions Failed?
Malek Adly, director of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights, tells Zawia3 that the government should not be a party to the Al-Waraq Island crisis, noting that its involvement as a disputing side makes matters more complicated and heightens friction with residents. Adly says: “The crisis today requires the intervention of a third party, perhaps the judiciary or parliament.” He adds that “the judiciary is supposed to follow a clear legal process to resolve the issue, but at this stage, it would be better for parliament to intervene, go directly to the residents, ask them about their needs and what they aspire to, instead of relying solely on security-driven solutions.”
Adly stresses that “security solutions alone will not lead to any real outcome, and any security decision must be based on judicial rulings, not administrative decisions issued by the government, which has now become a party with its own interests. Any decisions it issues will reflect those interests, not necessarily the rights of citizens.”
The lawyer and rights advocate explains that “expropriation must follow clear rules, through genuine negotiations with residents and the involvement of experts to evaluate properties and determine fair prices, with compensation deposited in the bank before any decision is enforced. What is happening now is that agreements are often verbal and unofficial, which makes any subsequent measures a subject of dispute and confrontation.”
Adly points out that administrative decisions, whether issued by the government, the governorate, or ministers, often overlook residents’ living realities. He stresses that “those who leave their homes or agricultural land do not always receive appropriate legal remedies, which creates a major problem, because residents do not know their rights or whether the government will honor the promised compensation.”
He explains that there are different types of expropriation decisions: “Some are for public or essential purposes, such as protecting public health, safety, or order, and some are for development purposes. In development cases, the process is supposed to happen with resident participation and through written agreements that guarantee their rights. Unfortunately, many recent decisions do not follow these standards and are carried out by force or through administrative orders without adherence to the law.”
He also notes that some of the targeted land will be transformed for private investment purposes, such as constructing tourist towers or projects owned by investment companies. He emphasizes that any development process must involve residents and include genuine negotiations with them to ensure that their rights are not harmed and that they are not forced to leave their homes without proper legal alternatives.
Proposed Government Projects
According to maps published by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, the Al-Waraq Island development project includes establishing a major investment zone under the name “Horus City,” featuring residential towers, hotels, and a business district. The government has announced that these projects will create job opportunities and generate investment revenue for the state, but it has not provided clear details on plans for relocating the island’s original residents. According to information released by the State Information Service, the project aims to transform the island into a global commercial hub spanning 1,516 feddans, with a total cost of 17.5 billion pounds ($371.33 million). The plan includes eight investment zones, a commercial district, premium housing, a central park, green areas, tourist marinas, a tourist riverfront, a cultural district, and a tourist corniche.
In 2021, responsibility for the island’s file was transferred to the New Urban Communities Authority, which began purchasing land from residents at prices ranging between 6,000 and 12,000 pounds ($127.26–$254.53) per square meter. Before that, the Engineering Authority had completed construction of a corniche along the island’s western bank. These measures show that the state is moving toward a comprehensive redevelopment of the island without a clear plan for involving its residents.
Since July 2017, residents have organized scattered protests on the island, demanding their right to remain and to live in safety. Popular committees were formed to defend the island, and the hashtag (#Al_Warraq_Is_Not_For_Sale) spread across social media. Residents refused to leave their homes or accept the proposed compensations, which they say are far below the actual value of the land and its location.
In September 2024, security forces banned the entry of construction materials onto the island via the ferries, leading to severe congestion and public anger. Rights organizations such as the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms documented several violations against island residents, including arbitrary arrests and excessive use of force.
On the official side, the Giza governor and officials from the Ministry of Housing have affirmed that the Al-Waraq Island development project is part of a national plan to redevelop Nile islands. The government says it is committed to providing alternative housing units and fair compensation, and that it does not aim to carry out forced eviction. However, the lack of transparency surrounding compensation details and the exclusion of residents from decision-making continue to heighten tension.
The cabinet also issued a statement in November 2024 asserting that “the state does not confiscate anyone’s property, but applies the law to violators.” Yet local and international human rights organizations, such as the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, have questioned the extent of the state’s adherence to international standards for voluntary relocation.
Photo: Aerial view of Warraq Island. Source: CNN.
