On Thursday, January 17, 2019, forces from the Giza Security Directorate began executing demolition operations targeting existing properties in the Nazlet El-Semman area, resulting in the displacement of residents. This intervention sparked public outrage, prompting residents on Sunday, January 21, 2019, to stage demonstrations and sit-ins in front of their homes, rejecting what they described as forced evictions carried out by the Egyptian authorities.
The origins of these operations trace back to the strategic master plan presented by Mostafa Madbouly, then Head of the General Organization for Physical Planning (and current Prime Minister), as part of the “Cairo 2050” vision. The plan included the redevelopment of Nazlet El-Semman, Kafr El-Gabal, and Nazlet El-Sisi, an area covering approximately 254 feddans (about 106 hectares), with a population of roughly 45,000 inhabitants in 2009.
The area’s spatial segregation dates to 2002, when Zahi Hawass constructed an 18-kilometer perimeter wall around the Giza Plateau with the stated aim of physically separating it from Nazlet El-Semman.
Strategic Location and Historical Context
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Geographically: Situated adjacent to the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, granting it high tourism potential.
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Administratively: Falls under the jurisdiction of the Al-Haram District in Giza Governorate.
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Historically: Nazlet El-Semman was a rural village in the 20th century whose residents largely worked in tourism services catering to pyramid visitors. Over time, it evolved into an informal urban settlement forming part of Giza’s metropolitan expansion.
Official Justification for the Forced Evictions
In 2009, Mostafa Madbouly stated:
“The core problem of Nazlet El-Semman is that around 80% of its building stock is in poor and severely deteriorated condition. More importantly, the entire Valley Temple of King Khufu lies beneath this area, yet remains undiscovered due to the presence of residential buildings. Hence, the plan was conceived to remove these unsafe structures, ensure residents’ safety, and uncover the temple to integrate it into the ancient Egyptian heritage portfolio.”
Reference: Redevelopment master plan for the Giza Plateau as published in Al-Shorouk newspaper.
