Home / Crime and Justice / Equatorial Guinea Detains US Deportee After Reuters Report
Equatorial Guinea Detains US Deportee After Reuters Report
11 Sep
Summary
- Deported Egyptian man held incommunicado by Equatorial Guinean police.
- Migrants' phones seized after speaking out about alleged mistreatment.
- US deportation deals with African nations draw human rights concerns.
An Egyptian man deported from the United States to Equatorial Guinea, Ahmed Soliman, has been detained by police and is being held incommunicado. Soliman had previously spoken out about alleged mistreatment by security forces in Equatorial Guinea. His lawyer confirmed his arrest on Friday, stating that security forces had seized the phones of migrants at their hotel earlier in the week, citing a Reuters report.
Soliman's arrest follows his decision to speak with reporters about the conditions faced by deportees. Concerns are mounting over the safety of migrants sent to Equatorial Guinea under U.S. "third-country" deportation agreements. These deals, struck by the U.S. administration, allow for the deportation of migrants who cannot be returned to their home countries, even if they had previously secured protection from U.S. immigration judges.
A coalition of human rights organizations has demanded confirmation of the safety and whereabouts of Soliman and another detained deportee. The coalition has also filed a complaint against Equatorial Guinea concerning its agreement with Washington to accept third-country deportees.
