Ahmed Soliman arrested in Equatorial Guinea after U.S. deportation

Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian national who lived in the United States since childhood, has been arrested in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, following his deportation under the Trump administration’s third-country removal program. Soliman had been held in a hotel in Malabo since April after being flown there on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter flight.

Lawyers for Soliman allege that his recent arrest may be an act of retaliation. According to his legal team, the arrest occurred after Soliman spoke to international media regarding police abuse at the hotel, including an incident where an officer reportedly pointed an assault rifle at him. While local authorities have suggested the arrest was related to minor property damage, such as a broken mirror, his attorneys state that his exact legal status and current location remain unknown.

Soliman’s defense team has contacted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Reports from the hotel indicate that authorities have confiscated mobile phones from approximately 30 third-country nationals being held there and have reportedly cut off internet access.