Complaint to the Public Prosecutor .. Egyptian Center Calls for Investigation into Alleged Encroachments in Ras Hankorab
On Saturday, March 22, 2025, the lawyer representing the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) submitted a complaint to the Public Prosecutor, Counselor Mohamed Shawky Ayad, under No. 21625 of 2025 in the Public Prosecutor’s petitions registry. The complaint requests an investigation into reports of ongoing encroachments in the Ras Hankorab area, which lies within the boundaries of Wadi El-Gemal Protected Area—an invaluable ecological and natural treasure.
According to human rights and media reports, excavation and construction activities are being carried out in the area using heavy machinery to establish tourist facilities. These activities threaten the environmental balance and adversely affect the unique biodiversity that characterizes the reserve.
Wadi El-Gemal is a protected area under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 143 of 2003, as amended by Decree No. 1777 of 2020. This designation prohibits any activities that may lead to the destruction or degradation of the natural environment, harm wildlife, marine life, or vegetation, or alter the area’s aesthetic integrity. The decree also bans the hunting, transportation, killing, or disturbance of terrestrial or marine wildlife, as well as the destruction or relocation of plants, and any form of pollution affecting the reserve’s soil, water, or air.
Additionally, the decree prohibits the construction of buildings, roadworks, vehicle movement, and engagement in agricultural, industrial, commercial, or tourism activities within the protected area or its adjacent zones without prior authorization from the Environmental Affairs Agency, in accordance with the conditions, regulations, and procedures set forth in Prime Ministerial Decree No. 264 of 1994.
Reports have highlighted the encroachments on Ras Hankorab, including the use of heavy machinery and construction activities, which pose significant threats to the ecosystems within this part of the reserve. These violations could result in severe consequences, as outlined by experts, including but not limited to:
Threats to certain marine turtle species that are already endangered.
Damage to rare coral reef ecosystems.
Disruption of the ecological balance within the reserve.
Negative impacts on Wadi El-Gemal’s global reputation as a premier ecotourism destination.
Economic losses due to environmental degradation.
Violations of Egypt’s binding international obligations concerning the protection and management of nature reserves.
Article 7 of Law No. 102 of 1983 on Natural Reserves stipulates penalties for violations, including fines and imprisonment. It also obligates violators to bear the costs of removal or restoration and mandates the confiscation of any equipment used in committing the violation. Furthermore, Article 45 of the Egyptian Constitution (as amended in 2019) requires the state to protect its natural reserves and explicitly prohibits any encroachments, pollution, or misuse that contradicts their designated purpose.
Additionally, Article 25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Law No. 150 of 1950) grants any individual who becomes aware of a crime, one that the Public Prosecution can initiate without requiring a complaint or request, the right to report it to the Public Prosecution or a judicial officer. Similarly, Article 103 of the Environmental Law affirms the right of any citizen or environmental organization to report violations of environmental regulations.
Accordingly, the lawyer representing the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights has filed this complaint, calling for an investigation into the nature of activities taking place in this rare and unique area of Egypt and the extent to which they constitute unlawful encroachments. The complaint also demands that necessary legal measures be taken to halt all forms of encroachment.
