Telegraphic Complaints from the Egyptian Center to the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Environment, and Red Sea Governorate Regarding ‘Ras Hankorab Encroachments’
On Monday, March 24, 2025, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) submitted three telegraphic complaints to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Environment, and the Red Sea Governorate. These complaints called for urgent action to document, verify, and address reports of encroachments on the Ras Hankorab area, which lies within the boundaries of the Wadi El-Gemal Protected Area—one of Egypt’s rare and invaluable ecological sites. The center urged authorities to take immediate steps to halt any form of encroachment in the area.
In its complaints—numbered 249500736, 249500737, and 249500738—ECESR demanded that all individuals and entities responsible for these encroachments be compelled to remove all violations at their own expense and restore the site to its original state. Additionally, it called for the state to be compensated for any damage resulting from the destruction of any part of this unique area.
The center further urged authorities to implement measures to prevent future encroachments on the Wadi El-Gemal Protected Area. Among these measures, it specifically called for heightened security protections and restrictions on access to the area, limiting entry strictly to tourism and scientific research activities.
On Saturday, March 22, 2025, ECESR’s legal counsel submitted a formal complaint to the Public Prosecutor, Counselor Mohamed Shawky Ayad, under No. 21625 of 2025, General Prosecution Petitions, requesting an investigation into ongoing encroachments on Ras Hankorab. This area, situated within the Wadi El-Gemal Protected Area, is an irreplaceable environmental and natural treasure.
According to human rights and media reports, large-scale excavation and construction activities involving heavy machinery are being carried out in the area to establish tourist facilities. These activities pose a severe threat to the region’s ecological balance and the unique biodiversity that defines the protected area.
Wadi El-Gemal was designated a nature reserve by Prime Ministerial Decree No. 143 of 2003, later amended by Decree No. 1777 of 2020, which strictly prohibits any activities that could destroy or damage the natural environment, harm wildlife, or alter the area’s aesthetic value. Prohibited activities include hunting, transporting, killing, or disturbing wildlife; damaging or relocating plants; and polluting the reserve’s soil, water, or air in any form. The decree also bans the construction of buildings, road development, vehicular movement, and agricultural, industrial, commercial, or tourism-related activities within or near the reserve—except with explicit authorization from the Environmental Affairs Agency, in accordance with the regulations set by Prime Ministerial Decree No. 264 of 1994.
Reports on the encroachments in Ras Hankorab highlight the use of heavy machinery and construction, which endanger the area’s delicate ecosystems. Experts have warned of the numerous risks associated with these activities, including threats to endangered sea turtles and rare coral reef systems, as well as broader disruptions to the region’s environmental equilibrium.
Moreover, the destruction of the protected area could damage its standing as a world-class eco-tourism destination, causing financial losses to Egypt’s economy and tarnishing the country’s reputation in environmental conservation. These activities also violate binding international agreements concerning the protection and management of natural reserves.
Law No. 102 of 1983 on natural reserves stipulates, under Article 7, that violators are subject to penalties, including fines and imprisonment. It also mandates that offenders bear the costs of removing violations and restoring the affected area, with the confiscation of any equipment used in the offense. Additionally, Article 45 of the amended 2019 Egyptian Constitution obligates the state to protect its natural reserves, explicitly prohibiting any form of encroachment, pollution, or misuse inconsistent with their ecological nature.
Furthermore, 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 may pursue independently of a complaint or request—the right to report it to the prosecution or judicial authorities. Article 103 of the Environmental Law further affirms the right of any citizen or environmental organization to report violations of the law’s provisions.
Based on these legal frameworks, ECESR’s legal counsel has filed this complaint to demand an official investigation into the ongoing encroachments on this rare and invaluable area of Egypt’s territory. The center seeks urgent action to halt all forms of illegal encroachment and ensure compliance with national and international environmental laws.
Ultimately, ECESR’s legal counsel has submitted this complaint to call for a thorough investigation into the nature of the activities taking place within this unique and ecologically significant area. The complaint also demands that all necessary measures be taken to halt any form of encroachment that violates the law.
