ARIJ and Al-Muhajir Investigation "The Human Trap" Wins 2026 Sigma Award

ARIJ and Al-Muhajir investigation “The Human Trap: Sudanese Refugees Fall into The Trap of Organized Gangs on the Egyptian Border” has won the 2026 Sigma Award.

This achievement came amid fierce global competition; this year’s iteration of the awards attracted a total of 543 entries from 84 countries. A diverse and independent jury selected 31 outstanding projects for the shortlist, representing 23 countries and territories worldwide, before announcing the investigation as one of the 10 global winners of the award this year.

The investigation, conducted by journalists Salma Abdul Aziz and Ihab Zidan, identified the types of violations committed against Sudanese refugees during their journey to Egypt, as a result of their entry into Egyptian territory via irregular channels. This process was based on interviews conducted with seven people, who were subjected to rape, as well as five others who were subjected to sexual harassment. There were also 11 cases of robbery or abduction for ransom, in addition to a survey of 324 Sudanese refugees in Egypt.

The Sigma jury recognized the investigation as a “masterclass in investigative courage and ethical data journalism”, highlighting how it “sets a gold standard for balancing technical transparency with the absolute necessity of anonymity in conflict zones.”

This win marks a major milestone, as it is ARIJ’s first Sigma win since 2022, when the investigation “Lanes of Death in East Cairo” by journalist Mostafa Mansour Mohammed became the first Arab project to receive the award since its inception.