US transfers 11 guantanamo detainees to oman in largest single-country move under biden administration
In a significant development, the United States has transferred 11 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay detention centre to Oman. The move, which took place in the early hours of Monday, leaves just 15 detainees at the controversial prison in Cuba, marking the lowest population in its history.
In a statement, the US Department of Defense expressed gratitude to Oman for supporting its efforts to “responsibly reduce the detainee population and ultimately close” the facility. The men, held without charges for over two decades following the 9/11 terror attacks, had been cleared for release after federal national security review panels deemed the transfers consistent with the United States’ national security interests.
The controversial history of guantanamo
Established in 2002 under the Bush administration, Guantanamo Bay was designed to detain suspects captured during counter-terrorism operations in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. At its peak, the facility housed approximately 800 detainees. However, it has been the subject of international criticism, largely due to the prolonged detention of prisoners without trial and allegations of mistreatment.
Over the years, successive US presidents have sought to address the challenges posed by the prison. Barack Obama, during his presidency, made closing Guantanamo a key pledge, arguing that the facility undermined US values, strained partnerships with allied nations, and fuelled jihadist recruitment. Although Obama succeeded in transferring or releasing over 100 detainees, opposition from Congress prevented him from fully shuttering the prison.
In stark contrast, Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep the facility operational, asserting that closing it made the US appear weak in its fight against terrorism. Trump halted efforts to reduce the detainee population, leaving the task to his successor.
Biden’s push to close guantanamo
Since taking office in 2021, President Joe Biden has intensified efforts to lower the prison’s population in line with his administration’s goal to close the facility. The transfer of the 11 Yemenis to Oman represents the largest such move to a single country during Biden’s tenure. However, the prospect of achieving the long-term aim of closing Guantanamo remains uncertain, particularly as former President Trump prepares to take office again later this month.
Among those transferred is Moath al-Alwi, known for crafting intricate model boats from materials found within the prison. Al-Alwi was cleared for release in 2022. Another detainee, Shaqawi al Hajj, repeatedly resorted to hunger strikes to protest his detention. Efforts to resettle the men in Oman began years ago, but Yemen’s ongoing civil war rendered repatriation unviable.
The transfer follows the recent repatriation of Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi, a Tunisian who was among the first detainees to arrive at Guantanamo in January 2002. With just 15 detainees now remaining, the Pentagon has confirmed that three of them are eligible for transfer, pending arrangements with host nations.
Challenges to closure
While Biden’s administration has made notable progress, legislative and political hurdles continue to impede the closure of Guantanamo. US Congress has prohibited the transfer of detainees to American soil and restricted their relocation to certain conflict-ridden countries like Yemen.
The debate over the prison remains deeply polarising. Critics argue that it contravenes the principles of due process and the rule of law, tarnishing the US’s global reputation. Supporters, however, maintain that its existence serves as a vital tool in counter-terrorism efforts.
As Biden inches closer to reducing Guantanamo’s population to single digits, the fate of the remaining detainees—and the facility itself—hangs in the balance. With the transfer of the Yemeni detainees, the world watches to see whether the US will finally turn the page on one of its most contentious chapters.
