Police officers in Equatorial Guinea allegedly pointed firearms at migrants deported from the United States, according to three witnesses and video footage reviewed by Reuters, raising fresh concerns about the safety and treatment of people sent to the Central African country under a US deportation programme.
The alleged incident has intensified scrutiny of Washington’s policy of transferring migrants to third countries, particularly nations where deportees may have limited legal protections or support networks.
Witnesses said the migrants were confronted by Equatorial Guinean security personnel, with officers reportedly displaying and pointing firearms during the encounter.
Video footage shared with Reuters also appeared to show a confrontation involving police officers and the deported migrants, adding to concerns about the circumstances surrounding their arrival and treatment.
The deportations form part of a broader US immigration enforcement programme under which migrants are sent to countries other than their own after removal from the United States.
Rights advocates have raised concerns about the welfare of migrants transferred under such arrangements, questioning whether receiving countries can guarantee their safety, freedom of movement and access to legal or humanitarian assistance.
The reported confrontation in Equatorial Guinea is likely to increase pressure on US authorities to explain the safeguards in place for migrants deported under the programme and to clarify how their treatment is monitored after arrival.
The accounts from witnesses and the video evidence have further fuelled concerns over whether migrants sent to third countries are adequately protected once they are handed over to local authorities.
SOURCE: Reuters
