Equatorial Guinea releases two men deported from the United States

Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian national, and Samson Birhane, an Eritrean national, have been released from detention in Equatorial Guinea. Both men were part of a group of dozens illegally deported to Equatorial Guinea by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in early 2026.

Following their release on October 8, the men were transferred to the Balmy Hotel in Malabo alongside other individuals deported from the United States. Prior to their release, they had been held in arbitrary detention at the Balmy Hotel and later at the La Luna gendarmerie in Malabo, where they reportedly faced inhumane conditions in overcrowded cells and were denied access to legal counsel.

On October 10, a U.S. court ordered authorities to facilitate the release of Ahmed Soliman in Equatorial Guinea and support his return to the United States. While their release is considered significant progress, their ongoing situation remains a matter of concern. International pressure, including urgent actions from Amnesty International, contributed to the decision by Equatorial Guinean authorities to release the two men.