Hommam Al Nassim 
A car carrying a sticker with a Sudanese map that includes the Egyptian region of Halayeb and Shalateen sparked great dissatisfaction after a photo of the car was taken and published on social media platforms.
This incident comes just days after a dispute with a Sudanese barber over a sign outside his shop that included the same map.
That photo led to numerous calls online for the deportation of the Sudanese car owner, noting that his identity could be easily identified through the number plate displayed.
These events are taking place as Egypt hosts large numbers of Sudanese refugees fleeing unrest in their country, and indicate growing tensions related to issues of national security and sovereignty.
It also comes with ongoing campaigns to close Sudanese schools in Egypt and increasing demands to regulate the situation of refugees on Egyptian territory.
The period granted by the Egyptian authorities to legalize the status of refugees ends on June 30, which adds more pressure on refugee communities, amid fears of increasing severity of measures against them.
The Halayeb and Shalateen region is located on the African side of the Red Sea. Its area is about 20,580 km2 and includes three main towns: Halayeb, Abu Ramad, and Shalateen.
The region is politically and administratively affiliated with Egypt and is the subject of a border dispute between Egypt and Sudan. People from the Beja tribes live there, and it is distinguished by its fish wealth and the fertility of its lands.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates the number of Sudanese refugees currently in Egypt at 500,000, since the beginning of the crisis in April 2023, and the Egyptian Red Crescent provides them with humanitarian and relief services at transit ports, most of whom are located in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Damietta, and Dakahlia.
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