Deported Men Allegedly Tortured in Equatorial Guinea After Sharing Detention Videos
Two men deported from the US to Equatorial Guinea were allegedly bound, beaten, and tortured by police on September 11, 2026, after sharing videos of detention conditions with the press. They are among approximately 30 detainees held at Hotel Bamy in Malabo, where human rights advocates report dangerous conditions, lack of medical care, and arbitrary violence. The US has sent at least 66 individuals to Equatorial Guinea under a $7.5 million cooperation deal, despite warnings from UN experts and the African Commission regarding potential torture and refoulement.
Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian national aged 31, and Samson Birhane, an Eritrean national aged 47, were allegedly subjected to severe abuse by police in Equatorial Guinea on September 11, 2026. According to reports, the two men were bound, fitted with bags over their heads, beaten, and pushed down stairs. This incident occurred shortly after they shared videos detailing the conditions of their detention with the press.
Soliman had filmed authorities pointing guns at deportees and forcibly sending some individuals to Ethiopia. He was reportedly targeted specifically for recording these exchanges. The two men are part of a group of approximately 30 detainees currently trapped at Hotel Bamy in Malabo. Human rights advocates describe the conditions at the hotel as dangerous, citing a complete lack of medical care and instances of arbitrary violence.
Detainees at Hotel Bamy have reported being watched by armed guards 24 hours a day, having no access to fresh clothes since their arrival, and suffering from psychological trauma, including flashbacks and fear of retaliation. Some detainees suffer from severe health conditions such as stomach hernias, HIV, and diabetes, yet remain without adequate treatment. Additionally, cellphones have been confiscated, and lawyers have been barred from visiting the detainees.
The United States has transferred at least 66 people from various countries to Equatorial Guinea as part of a deportation program that involved a payment of $7.5 million to the host nation. Despite this arrangement, at least 12 individuals have already been returned by Equatorial Guinea to their home countries, where they face persecution. In May 2026, UN human rights experts issued a public appeal asking Equatorial Guinea to halt plans to return deportees. Subsequently, in July 2026, the African Commission issued an urgent interim order instructing Equatorial Guinea to refrain from deporting or relocating individuals against their will.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that it is not responsible for individuals once they are out of ICE custody and claimed that all deportees were sent to a "safe third country." However, lawyers representing the detainees reported that emails alerting the US embassy in Equatorial Guinea to threats and violence against the men have gone unanswered.