The Hidden Factors Behind Egypt's Plan to Relocate Its Capital City

Did you know that Egypt is making a monumental decision to relocate its capital city from Cairo to a brand new location? This bold move has sparked curiosity and debate among citizens and observers worldwide.

With Cairo facing overcrowding, pollution, and infrastructure challenges, the Egyptian government has put forward an ambitious plan to create a new administrative and economic hub that can better accommodate the growing population and address current urban issues.

The idea of relocating a capital city carries significant implications and raises numerous questions: How will this impact the economy, the environment, and the daily lives of citizens? What opportunities and challenges will arise from establishing a new capital city in Egypt? Let's delve deeper into Egypt's strategy to relocate its capital and explore the factors driving this historic decision.

Cairo is Egypt's largest city and capital, known for its historical significance. The Parliament has convened in the same building for over a century, while the city's central square has witnessed numerous revolutions. In 2015, the Egyptian government revealed plans to relocate the capital to a vacant desert area about 50 kilometers away, intending to establish the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. This new city will feature a presidential palace, a Parliament building, and a public square. The move aims to alleviate Cairo's overpopulation issues, a problem Egypt has tried to address through previous new city projects that are now located outside the capital. Despite these efforts, Cairo's population continues to grow, posing a challenge for the government. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi leads the initiative for the new capital and asserts that it will effectively tackle the overpopulation problem. However, questions remain about the true motives behind the relocation and the sustainability of the new city. A population counter with red, flashing lights outside one of the ministries reflects the ongoing concerns about Cairo's growing population.

Mohamed Elshahed, who studies Egypt's urban development, believes the idea of Egypt being too crowded is risky. Egypt has a population of over 100 million, and about 20% live in Greater Cairo. Greater Cairo has an extremely high population density, reaching 153,000 people per square kilometer at its peak, surpassing cities like New York, London, and Shanghai. Cairo was established as the Arab Fatimid Caliphate's capital in the 10th century, strategically positioned near the Nile due to the surrounding desert. Rulers over the centuries expanded Cairo near the fertile river banks, with the Ottomans and British contributing to the city's growth. In the 1950s, when Egypt became a republic, Cairo was the largest city, attracting millions of rural Egyptians seeking better opportunities. However, the city's unplanned growth over the years has led to challenges.

The city was already developed and the surrounding green areas were left for agriculture. Those agricultural areas became affordable housing options for migrants due to the lack of sufficient housing. Farmers began selling small portions of their land to people in need. Families built makeshift homes on small plots of land, creating informal and technically illegal neighborhoods. These neighborhoods emerged because the economic system excluded a large portion of the population. The government of Egypt neglected to build affordable housing or invest in public services, leading to overcrowding in Cairo. The city, designed for 3 million people, is now home to 8 million, causing a housing crisis. Many residents of Cairo live in poor conditions, including makeshift shacks in the city center.

In Cairo, informal neighborhoods in the suburbs are now home to 60% of the population. While many of these neighborhoods are inhabited by the poor, some have become middle-class areas. These neighborhoods are among the most crowded in Cairo. The government, led by President Sisi, blames these neighborhoods for the city's overcrowding. This narrative shifts responsibility from poor design and management to the residents themselves. The government still labels these neighborhoods as illegal "slums," making it easier to justify their removal. Plans have been made to eliminate these slums by 2030, with many being redeveloped into upscale housing. However, this plan involves forcibly displacing thousands of residents to affordable housing outside the city. Instead of focusing on providing more affordable housing, the government has invested billions in a new city project elsewhere. This strategy of starting fresh in the desert to solve housing crises is not new in Egypt. As a result, there is currently a building boom, with new apartment blocks being constructed.

Since the beginning of Nasser's Revolution, the idea of creating a new city to address Cairo's population growth emerged in the 1950s. The first attempt was Nasr City, ordered by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, intended to serve as a new capital. This new city was planned to include government buildings, markets, and a large stadium, but lacked affordable housing for the lower-class residents in crowded areas of Cairo. The focus was on creating a shiny new capital rather than addressing the housing needs of the population. This trend continued into the 1970s under leader Anwar Sadat, who opted to build 'desert cities' instead of relocating the capital to Nasr City. These new cities in the desert lacked affordable housing and proper public transportation, limiting accessibility for many residents.

Many desert cities are partially occupied because most residents are middle and upper-class Cairo residents. The population around the Nile is left out of these developments. This situation is a result of decades of misguided policy focusing on the city's outskirts. President Sisi continues this trend with the new capital, catering mostly to the wealthy. Low-income housing will be limited in the capital, with land dedicated to government buildings and a business district.

The government in Egypt is building a new capital in Africa. This new capital is not primarily aimed at solving Cairo's population density crisis. However, the government is determined to build it for another reason. In 2011, protests erupted in Egypt due to police brutality, leading to calls for the resignation of the long-time ruler, Hosni Mubarak. Demonstrations occurred all over Egypt, with the largest happening in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Tahrir Square has been a significant location for political demonstrations for years due to its proximity to government buildings. During the 2011 protests, millions occupied Tahrir Square for 18 days, setting up roadblocks and clashing with police. Eventually, on February 11, protestors marched from Tahrir Square to the presidential palace, forcing Mubarak to step down. The control of Tahrir Square and central Cairo allowed protestors to effectively disrupt the government, making their demands impossible to ignore. Sisi, who took power in 2013 after the revolution, led with a strong hand to prevent any future uprisings that could threaten his rule. His government has taken measures to suppress political dissent.

Journalists have been punished and free speech has been hindered in Cairo. The government is now redesigning the city to make it harder for protests to occur. Streets have been widened to prevent roadblocks. The construction of 40 bridges is planned to give easier access to the city center for the military and police. Tahrir Square has been renovated with giant monuments and private security guards to deter large crowds. The government is moving out of Cairo and into a new capital city, almost 50 kilometers away. This new location will be heavily guarded by the military. The goal is to make it difficult for people to gather and protest, ensuring Sisi's power is protected. The new capital city is meant to keep the government out of reach of the people of Cairo, preventing any potential uprisings.