The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the death of Guinean student Aboubacar Sawani inside a detention facility in Cairo on Friday, 27 February 2026.
According to the information gathered by CFJ, the student had been detained due to difficulties related to regularizing his residency status in Egypt, before authorities announced his death inside his place of detention. To date, the full circumstances of the incident remain unclear, including the cause of death and whether he received adequate medical care during his detention.
CFJ stressed that the detention of foreign nationals for administrative residency‑related issues does not exempt authorities from their full responsibility to ensure their physical and psychological safety, as well as access to appropriate healthcare, given that the rights to life and human dignity are fundamental and non‑derogable.
The Committee calls for an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Aboubacar Sawani, with public disclosure of the findings. CFJ also urges that his family and relevant diplomatic authorities be allowed to follow the necessary legal procedures. Furthermore, the organization calls for a comprehensive review of the conditions of detention for foreign nationals in Egypt and for ensuring full protection and adequate care in line with international human rights standards.