Continued Detainee Transfers Mark New Era at Guantanamo Bay

With the recent transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman, the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay reaches a historic low of 15 detainees, prompting discussions on the future of the controversial facility.

The United States has successfully transferred 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the sultanate of Oman, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to reduce the prison's controversial detainee population. Following the transfer, which occurred early Monday, the total number of detainees remaining in the Cuban facility has been reduced to just 15—the lowest number recorded since it opened.

In an official comment, the Department of Defense expressed gratitude to Oman for its role in the US initiative aimed at responsibly diminishing the detainee count and moving toward the closure of Guantanamo Bay. It is important to note that none of the 11 transferred men had faced charges during their lengthy detainment of over two decades, stemming back to the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

This transfer occurs in conjunction with significant events unfolding, as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind 9/11, is poised to enter a guilty plea to avoid the death penalty. This transfer, the largest to a single country under President Biden, follows years of resettlement negotiations, emphasizing that Yemen's civil conflict made repatriation there unfeasible.

Among those transferred were individuals like Moath al-Alwi, known for his model boat creations, and hunger striker Shaqawi al Hajj, both of whom had been cleared for release prior to the move. The decision to transfer was backed by federal national security review panels affirming such actions align with the United States' security interests.

Remarkably, this transition follows a similar move just days earlier, when Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi—one of the facility's first detainees since January 2002—was sent back to Tunisia. The Pentagon indicated that three of the remaining detainees are also eligible for transfer.

Established in 2002 under the Bush administration, the prison was created to detain suspects from counter-terrorism operations, peaking at a staggering 800 detainees. The facility has long been mired in debates regarding the humane treatment of its prisoners and has faced substantial calls from former President Barack Obama and other advocates to cease operations, viewing its existence as contradictory to American values.

Despite Obama’s stated intentions to close the prison, legislative hurdles and shifting political priorities, particularly during the Trump administration, have hampered progress. Trump took steps to reverse efforts toward closure, while Biden currently seeks to continue transfers, despite the facility's future remaining uncertain as Trump prepares to return to office. The recent actions remain a significant focal point in the broader narrative concerning justice, security, and human rights within the framework of US counter-terrorism policies.