US Department of Defense announces repatriation of detainee from Guantanamo Bay to Algeria

The US Department of Defense announced on Thursday the transfer to Algeria of Said bin Brahim bin Umran Bakush, a captive held at Guantanamo Bay. Together with this transfer, this leaves 30 detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

the Department of Defense announced that the Guantanamo Periodic Review Board (PRB) concluded that it was "no longer necessary" to detain Bakush to avert a "significant threat to the national security of the United States". ”

In a press release, the Department of Defense announced that the Guantanamo Periodic Review Board (PRB) concluded that it was "no longer necessary" to detain Bakush to avert a "significant threat to the national security of the United States". For Bakush's release, the US will coordinate with the Algerian government in order to ensure implementation of the recommendations regarding monitoring, restrictions on travel, and ongoing informationsharing.

The Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, first reported to Congress the Department of Defense's intention to repatriate Bakush to Algeria on 21 February. Since the start of the year, the Department of Defense has released four other Guantanamo detainees.

Based on Bakush's 2016 Guantanamo detainee profile, US authorities detained Bakush in 2022 on suspicion of having served with an Afghan extremist group. He had previously told US authorities that he did not want to return to Algeria, even lying about his nationality, because he "feared the authorities would arrest him immediately". During his hearing before the committee in 2016, the PRB denied Bakush's release, citing "a continuing threat to the security of the United States".

Following Bakush's release, there are now 30 detainees remaining in US custody at Guantanamo Bay. Out of these 30 detainees, 16 are subject to transfer and three are likely to appear before the PRB. A further nine are involved in Bush administration proceedings for foreign terrorism suspects - known as military commissions - and two other detainees have already been convicted by the same military commissions.

The United Nations Human Rights Council recently reported that conditions at Guantanamo Bay were "worrying" and urged its immediate closure. Joe Biden, the US President, announced the closure of Guantanamo Bay in February 2021. Since then there have been no further announcements from the Biden administration on plans to close the detention centre.

In a press release, the Department of Defense announced that the Guantanamo Periodic Review Board (PRB) concluded that it was "no longer necessary" to detain Bakush to avert a "significant threat to the national security of the United States". For Bakush's release, the US will coordinate with the Algerian government in order to ensure implementation of the recommendations regarding monitoring, restrictions on travel, and ongoing informationsharing.

The Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, first reported to Congress the Department of Defense's intention to repatriate Bakush to Algeria on 21 February. Since the start of the year, the Department of Defense has released four other Guantanamo detainees.

Based on Bakush's 2016 Guantanamo detainee profile, US authorities detained Bakush in 2022 on suspicion of having served with an Afghan extremist group. He had previously told US authorities that he did not want to return to Algeria, even lying about his nationality, because he "feared the authorities would arrest him immediately". During his hearing before the committee in 2016, the PRB denied Bakush's release, citing "a continuing threat to the security of the United States".

Following Bakush's release, there are now 30 detainees remaining in US custody at Guantanamo Bay. Out of these 30 detainees, 16 are subject to transfer and three are likely to appear before the PRB. A further nine are involved in Bush administration proceedings for foreign terrorism suspects - known as military commissions - and two other detainees have already been convicted by the same military commissions.

The United Nations Human Rights Council recently reported that conditions at Guantanamo Bay were "worrying" and urged its immediate closure. Joe Biden, the US President, announced the closure of Guantanamo Bay in February 2021. Since then there have been no further announcements from the Biden administration on plans to close the detention centre.