Kuwait breaks up riot by Egyptian workers seeking repatriation – ministry

Kuwait broke up riots by Egyptian workers at a designated shelter for violating residency laws to demand repatriation back home, the interior ministry said on Monday, with a number of the workers arrested.

The statement said Kuwaiti policemen intervened after “riots and chaos” broke, arresting some of the rioters and referring them to authorities for legal action, Ahram Online reported.

It said representatives from the Egyptian Embassy in Kuwait informed the workers that the embassy would begin preparing schedules for repatriation flights starting this week.

Kuwait had agreed in April to give a green light to expatriates violating its residency laws to leave the country without bearing fines or air tickets.

Around 28,000 foreigners out of estimated 160,000 violating residencies have registered for repatriation. They are currently placed in 34 shelters in the country, according to local Kuwaiti media.

The expats seeking repatriation from Kuwait include 6,500 Egyptians.

The statement by the Gulf country’s interior ministry came hours after Egypt’s Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs, Nabila Makram, told night talk show “Kol Youm” on ON E channel that the priority for repatriation flight would be for Egyptians in the Gulf, and especially those in Kuwait.

She said the given priority comes as the ministry continues to work on a solid plan amid demands and appeals for help for those seeking return in Egypt over violating residency laws or humanitarian emergencies.

Egypt has recently decided in its new plan for repatriating Egyptians from abroad to include humanitarian emergencies, those violating residency laws and terminated contracts, she said.