Two men deported from the United States to Equatorial Guinea were hooded, bound with rope, beaten with gun barrels and pushed down stairs by police officers at a hotel serving as a makeshift prison, according to multiple witnesses and lawyers.

The incident took place on September 11 at the Hotel Bamy in Malabo. The victims, identified as Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian national, and Samson Birhane, from Eritrea, were later transferred to a local prison. Witnesses said officers targeted the pair after they reported poor conditions and communicated with journalists and advocates.

Dozens of third-country nationals removed from the US remain held at the hotel under an agreement between the Trump administration and Equatorial Guinea. Reports indicate at least 66 people have been sent there since late 2025 across multiple flights. Detainees have described inadequate food, water, medical care and hygiene, along with 24-hour armed guard presence.

Police reportedly accused the men of breaking a mirror before the assault. Officers searched for phones and shouted demands about their location during the beating. Videos shared with media outlets showed earlier confrontations, including officers pointing firearms at deportees over phone access.

Lawyers and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, described the actions as retaliation for speaking out. The two men have not been charged with crimes in Equatorial Guinea. Some earlier deportees have faced further removal to their home countries despite prior US protections against refoulement.

The Trump administration has defended third-country removals as a lawful tool to enforce immigration law against individuals without valid claims to remain in the United States. Equatorial Guinea, led by longtime President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has faced longstanding criticism over governance and human rights practices.

Conditions at the facility have drawn scrutiny from UN experts and advocacy groups in recent months. Detainees have reported threats, restricted movement and psychological distress while awaiting resolution of their cases.