A Canadian banker detained in Dubai for over 10 months under a contested extradition request from South Sudan has been released, officials and the man himself confirmed. Ryan O’Grady, former CEO of South Sudan’s Kush Bank and a development consultant in Africa, was arrested in November 2025 after South Sudan accused him of breach of trust.
O’Grady was held at Al Awir prison near Dubai in conditions described as overcrowded and unsanitary. He reported a significant decline in health during detention, including a 17-kilogram weight loss and multiple infections commonly seen among inmates. Upon release late Monday, prison officials provided no explanation and left him by the roadside; a passerby subsequently helped him reach central Dubai, where he began receiving medical treatment for respiratory and ear infections.
In statements shared on social media and in interviews, O’Grady labeled the experience a “living nightmare” and insisted his release confirmed both his innocence and misuse of the international justice system by “corrupt cartels” in South Sudan. He claimed that had he been extradited there, the prison conditions and threats of torture would have posed a serious risk to his life. He also stated that despite two years of investigation, no formal evidence against him had been presented either in Dubai or South Sudan.
O’Grady previously led Kush Bank from 2022 to 2023 and asserted he had faced death threats after attempting to address corruption within the institution. After relocating to Dubai in late 2023, he was subsequently detained in response to South Sudan’s extradition efforts.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged awareness of the detainee’s release but declined to provide details citing privacy concerns. A spokesperson expressed relief at the development and wished for his safe return to family. Federal officials reportedly opposed the extradition request. Philip Lawrence, a Canadian parliamentarian for O’Grady’s home area of Northumberland-Clarke, said Canadian consular staff had attempted to assist the banker during his incarceration, although official comments have been limited.
The release occurred shortly after a meeting on Monday in Toronto between Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for International Co-operation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy. Global Affairs Canada’s summary of that meeting made no mention of the case. This diplomatic interaction took place amid Canada’s ongoing efforts, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, to strengthen trade and investment ties with the UAE. Reports have indicated discussions of potential multibillion-dollar UAE investments in Canada, and the appointment of Angad Singh Dhillon as Canada’s next ambassador to the UAE was also recently announced.
Human rights organizations have highlighted concerns about arbitrary detentions and abuses in both the UAE and South Sudan. Human Rights Watch reported that Samuel Peter Oyay, a South Sudanese political commentator who has criticized corruption, has been held in the UAE for a year without charges. The group’s senior UAE researcher, Joey Shea, accused the UAE of suppressing not only domestic dissidents but also critics of allied governments. South Sudanese officials have not publicly responded to requests for comment on O’Grady’s case.