Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chaired a Tuesday meeting to review efforts to combat encroachment on agricultural land and the procedures for its removal. Attendees included Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk, Head of the General Authority for Urban Planning Maha Fehim, and other officials. Madbouly reiterated that halting agricultural land encroachment is a national security issue and a top priority for President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He emphasised the importance of immediate action against any violations detected by the spatial change monitoring system implemented across all governorates. Awad reported continuous monitoring of the issue by the political leadership, which has bolstered the efforts of governorates, law enforcement, and security directorates. She highlighted inter-ministerial coordination and regular reporting on results achieved. The Ministry of Local Development's operations room and crisis management unit constantly monitor demolitions, coordinating with governorates to address any obstacles. Regarding building violations, Awad noted that governorates successfully reviewed over 3 million reconciliation requests in 2024. Steps have been taken to facilitate the reconciliation process for citizens, and significant progress has been made in legalising state-owned land. A training programme for officials involved in the reconciliation process has been completed, aiming to standardise procedures and prevent manipulation. Minister Farouk outlined the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to protect agricultural land, including public awareness campaigns on the importance of preserving farmland for future generations. He stressed confronting encroachments immediately, removing illegal constructions and ensuring the land is returned to its agricultural state. Cabinet spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsani stated that the meeting reviewed the current status of encroachments and the actions taken, along with updates on spatial changes. Madbouly stressed the need for continued efforts to address any encroachments according to established procedures and regulations to preserve agricultural land.
