Migrants diverted to Equatorial Guinea after refusing to disembark in Liberia

Six migrants deported from the United States were diverted to Equatorial Guinea after refusing to disembark from a flight in Liberia. The group, consisting of four Cuban men, one Brazilian man, and one Cameroonian woman, arrived in Liberia as part of a third-country deportation arrangement.

Upon landing, the individuals refused to leave the aircraft, stating that Liberia was “not their country.” Following their refusal, authorities separated them from the rest of the group. While they were initially told they would be returned to the United States, the plane instead continued to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, where they arrived later that same day.

One of the deportees, 35-year-old Carlos Rodríguez López, reported being treated with violence and held in chains. He and several others are currently being held in a hotel in Equatorial Guinea that serves as a detention center. Equatorial Guinea maintains a third-country agreement with the United States for such deportations. Liberia had previously agreed to accept up to 1,200 deportees under a similar arrangement.