The US military has sent 11 Yemeni prisoners from Guantánamo Bay to Oman, marking a significant milestone in the Biden administration’s efforts to close the detention center. The move leaves just 15 men remaining at the prison, the smallest population since its opening in 2002.
All 11 released detainees were cleared for transfer through federal national-security review panels and have been undergoing exit interviews with the International Committee of the Red Cross. They will receive a range of support services in Oman, including education, rehabilitation, and job training, as part of the US-funded program designed to reintegrate them into society.
The decision comes after years of negotiations, led by the Biden administration’s envoy for Guantánamo affairs, Tina S. Kaidanow, who died in October. The move is seen as a major step towards reducing the prison population and achieving closure.
Seven of the released detainees had previously spent time at CIA secret prisons abroad before being transferred to Guantánamo Bay. They will now join five other Yemenis who were sent to Oman last week, making up a total of 11 men who have left the detention center this year alone.
The remaining detainees are held in two prison buildings with cell space for approximately 250 prisoners. The prison has undergone significant changes since its peak in 2003, when it held around 660 inmates and over 2,000 troops and civilians.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/06/us/politics/guantanamo-prisoners-oman.html