In the eastern and western districts of Al-Omraneyya in Giza Governorate, residents are facing the threat of demolition orders targeting the homes they’ve lived in for decades. In the absence of alternative housing options and fair compensation, fears of forced displacement are mounting, prompting locals to issue an urgent appeal to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, calling on him to intervene to halt the evictions and to ensure solutions that safeguard their right to remain or secure housing that upholds their dignity.
These calls for help emerged after technical committees began surveying and numbering approximately 200 properties earmarked for removal. The targeted zone extends from the Al-Mahmoudiyya and Al-Zahraa towers to the Middle Ring Road, as part of preparations to implement new phases of the Kamel Amer Corridor extension project. Some residents were informed verbally that they may be required to vacate their homes in the coming weeks, without receiving any official notification. This has caused widespread concern, especially given the lack of any public announcement regarding compensation or relocation plans—despite the economic hardship many families face and their complete dependence on these homes as their only source of stability and shelter.
“I was shocked when they said the violation was just 15 centimeters,”
says Peter George, one of the residents affected by the new extension plan, recounting what happened on Saturday, May 10. He was visited by individuals who introduced themselves as representatives of the Egyptian Survey Authority. They requested to enter his apartment to take measurements in preparation for the project’s next phase.
“I thought the corridor would pass far from our neighborhood,” he told Zawia3. “But the official told me, ‘No, there’s a new extension coming right through here, and several buildings will be demolished. The decision came from the Al-Omraneyya district office.’ I asked him how much of my property was in violation, and he said, ‘Between 5 to 15 centimeters.’ I was stunned—can a whole building really be torn down over 15 centimeters?”
George added that district officials were also present and repeated what the surveyors had said. Markings were placed on three homes owned by his family, as well as one belonging to his wife’s family—an indication that all were included in the demolition plan.
According to George, residents reached out to MP Ihab Mansour, who initially said he had not received any official notification. He later visited the site and spoke with field officials, who confirmed that the demolitions would begin after the Eid holiday. In his meeting with residents, Mansour explained that the new corridor would link Kamel Amer Street to Badrashin, passing through the Ring Road, Al-Moneeb, and continuing to the Middle Ring Road.
George noted that the area contains many high-rise residential towers, including buildings owned by his family, ranging from eight to nine stories. Many of these residents had previously submitted reconciliation requests to the state during designated periods for legalizing building violations.
He added:
“MPs from the district told us not to go to the governorate to discuss the issue. But we decided to organize a peaceful stand in front of our homes after Friday prayers, based on an agreement made in a group that includes the affected residents and the MPs on a messaging app. We were surprised to see Central Security Forces deployed in the area, as if someone had reported our gathering.”
He concluded his testimony with:
“We’re not against development, but it’s unreasonable to treat people this way. There should have been prior negotiations over compensation, and transparency before any step was taken—whether surveying or issuing demolition orders. There must be a clear and fair alternative.”
Mohamed Hassan, another Al-Omraneyya resident, faces a similar situation. He lives in a three-story family home with his siblings and their families. He told Zawia3 that he halted all renovation work in his apartment as soon as he heard about the potential demolition orders, even though he had already rented a temporary apartment outside the neighborhood due to the renovation.
He explained:
“No one has spoken to us officially about compensation or alternatives. This house isn’t just a place to live—it’s a shelter for me and my family. I also run a small project out of part of the ground floor, and it’s my only income.”
Hassan emphasized that the lack of official communication left residents anxious and in the dark. He stressed:
“We’re not against development, but no authority has the right to demolish homes without telling people where they’ll go. We demand the right to alternative housing—not money. Prices now are outrageous, and cash won’t be fair compensation. We want a property for a property, and a shop for a shop. Anything else would mean complete displacement for us and our families.”
The Egyptian Constitution is clear on this matter. Article 78 obliges the state to provide suitable, safe, and healthy housing for citizens in a manner that safeguards dignity and ensures social justice, through a national housing strategy that accounts for environmental concerns and ensures proper urban planning.
Article 35 guarantees the protection of private property, prohibiting its confiscation except for public benefit and in return for fair compensation paid in advance. Article 63 categorically bans forced or arbitrary displacement, labeling it a crime that does not expire.
On the international level, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which Egypt ratified in 1982, recognizes the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living, including housing. It obligates states to take necessary measures to achieve this right.
Kamel Amer Corridor Extension Project
The extension of the Kamel Amer Corridor is one of the most prominent traffic projects in Giza Governorate. The government aims to link northern and southern Giza and relieve traffic congestion by connecting the city to Cairo’s main arterial routes. The corridor extends from the Ring Road in Al-Moneeb in the south to Al-Warraq in the north, reaching the “Tahya Misr” corridor in Rod El Farag. It passes through key arteries such as 26th of July Street, Gameat Al-Dowal Al-Arabiya, Saft El-Laban, Faisal, Haram, and other streets like Al-Sadr Hospital, Al-Thalatini, and Khatem Al-Morsaleen.
In this context, Al-Waqa’i’ Al-Misriyya (The Egyptian Gazette) published Issue No. 241 on October 31, 2024, which included Ministerial Decree No. 1102 of 2024 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities, approving the expropriation of lands in Giza for the extension project—previously known as the “Zomor Canal Corridor.” The decree was based on the Constitution, Law No. 43 of 1979 on Local Administration, Law No. 10 of 1990 on Expropriation for Public Benefit, and Presidential Decree No. 279 of 2018, which delegated certain powers to the Prime Minister.
It also referred to earlier decisions by the Prime Minister, including Decree No. 2128 of 2019 and Decree No. 2665 of 2021, both classifying the Kamel Amer Corridor as a project of public benefit. It cited a letter from the Giza Survey Directorate dated July 7, 2024, requesting expropriation orders for parcels not yet filed with the land registry.
The head of the Central Agency for Reconstruction recommended the project as one serving the public interest, justifying the need for expropriation along the designated path. The decision is seen as a continuation of government efforts to expand the corridor, which has sparked legal and social controversy amid fears that residents of Al-Omraneyya East and West could face forced evictions without fair compensation or clear alternatives.
MP’s Position and Parliamentary Action
MP Ihab Mansour, head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary bloc and Deputy Chair of the House’s Labor Committee, explained that the demolitions in Al-Omraneyya relate to a new proposed route approximately 17 kilometers long. It starts from the Kamel Amer Corridor, passes through Al-Zahraa Street toward Al-Moneeb, and ends at the Middle Ring Road.
In a video statement, the MP denied that these demolitions were connected to building ramps or exits onto the Ring Road, saying such structures lie beyond the Ring Road from the Al-Moneeb side and are unrelated to Al-Omraneyya. He confirmed the demolitions are part of a newly announced project communicated by the Survey Authority and are not linked to current or past infrastructure works.
He noted that he toured the proposed route with affected residents to assess its impact on residential areas. During meetings with officials, alternative routes were proposed—one through the Mariouteya area, another along the Cairo–Aswan desert road—and discussions with relevant bodies are ongoing.
“We’re trying to reduce the state’s financial burden and prevent as many demolitions as possible,” Mansour said. “Officials themselves do not want to pay billions in compensation, so we’re seeking a mutual solution that protects the public interest while preserving residents’ rights.”
The MP added that he had previously succeeded in altering the project’s path in some areas, preventing demolitions, though in other areas, such adjustments weren’t feasible and demolitions were carried out.
“So far, I’ve contacted 16 authorities and officials looking for fair and realistic solutions,” he said. “I will continue these efforts and will not stop pushing back against any demolition that lacks clear and just alternatives.”
In a related move, Mansour submitted an interpellation to the Prime Minister and ministers of local development, housing, transportation, and irrigation, highlighting what he called violations in the implementation of new demolitions in Al-Omraneyya. He said residents were shocked to find Survey Authority officials conducting property surveys within 24 hours, even though the original project had long been completed and prior expropriation decisions had already been issued.
He denounced this as “an unacceptable act,” warning that displacing residents with only one month’s notice and without adequate compensation could cause severe psychological harm, especially amid widespread fear and anxiety that gripped the neighborhood following news of impending demolitions.
The MP also pointed out that the original Kamel Amer Corridor had already created a physical barrier between eastern and western Al-Omraneyya, affecting daily life for many, especially the elderly and persons with disabilities. Although he had agreed to proposals for installing elevators on pedestrian bridges, those lifts remain inoperative.
He emphasized that the economic hardship and delays in compensation payments across many parts of Giza necessitate a reconsideration of the execution plan. He proposed a two-level construction model to reduce the number of demolitions, as well as publicly disclosing the list of affected properties so families can organize their living, educational, and social arrangements.
Mansour concluded by stressing that Egypt’s Constitution and laws governing expropriation set clear mechanisms to ensure fairness and transparency, and called on state agencies to fulfill their obligations to protect citizens’ rights and societal stability.
