In 2002, Makhtal travelled to the United Arab Emirates, from which he travelled to Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, and Somalia, selling clothing to support himself. In 2006, after Ethiopia's militarily intervention in Somalia, Canadian Foreign Affairs advised Canadians in Somalia to flee the impending conflict. Makhtal flew to neighboring Kenya, but was arrested during the flight. After spending three weeks in Nairobi jail, Makhtal was extraordinarily renditioned to the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia, which extradited him to Ethiopia. Makhtal was accused of being a member of the ONLF based on the prior membership of his grandfather, as well as collaborating with the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab. The Ethiopian government denied Makhtal representation in court by his Canadian lawyer, saying that Makhtal was already being represented by an Ethiopian lawyer. The Ethiopian court found Makhtal guilty of being a member of the ONLF and working with the Eritrean government to organize the financing, recruiting, and training of ONLF militants. Several reports claimed that Makhtal was tortured by interrogators while in prison, though the Ethiopian government denied this. In June 2007 he was able to have a letter delivered to his family.