On Wednesday, April 5th, Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Kabbaj urged non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country to complete the procedures required to legalize their status before the state’s deadline on April 12th.
In a statement, Minister El-Kabbaj asserted that the government has streamlined all procedures, paper or electronic, for civil society institutions to file for status legalization, per the provisions of Law 149/2019.
She stressed that no further extensions or grace periods will be granted on the matter after a previously granted year grace period that expires on April 12th.
NGOs that miss the last grace period deadline to legalize their status will be referred to the judiciary for necessary action under the law, El-Kabbaj cautioned.
Law no 149/2019 replaced a 2017 legislation criticized by some local civil society organizations and international bodies on the ground of restricting NGOs’ activities in Egypt.
The 2019 law legalizes NGOs following the submission of notification and obtaining official approval.
It exempts newly established entities from registration fees, customs, and real estate taxes.
Additionally, under the 2019 law, NGOs cannot be dissolved without a court ruling.
On the other hand, the law also stipulates several penalties against entities and organizations that do not comply with the rules and those involved in criminal activity.
Law no.149/2019 mandated that all NGOs must formalize their status in the maximum of a year following the publication of its bylaws in 2022. This decision came as part of the government’s efforts to allow civil society to contribute to achieving indicators of sustainable and equitable development, El-Kabbaj stressed.
However, the government granted two grace periods of six months each for NGOs to legalize their status. Currently, 32,222 NGOs, including foreign organizations and regional federations, have filed requests for legalization.
All 55 non-Egyptian NGOs operating in the country have received full legal status, El-Kabbaj explained.
