Was never charged

Guantánamo detainee transferred to Tunisia

One of the first prisoners of the controversial US detention center Guantánamo has been transferred to his home country Tunisia. Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi (59) had been held there since it was opened in 2002, but had never been charged.

He was captured by Pakistani security forces on the border with Afghanistan in December 2001, US media reported. The transfer to Tunisia then dragged on for around ten years. In January 2024, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin informed Congress of his plans to support the repatriation after a rigorous review.

According to reports, three more Guantánamo detainees have already been transferred to their home countries this month. No details were given on the exact circumstances of the transfer. According to the Pentagon, there are still 26 prisoners in the camp in Cuba, 14 of whom are eligible for transfer.

Biden did not push through closure
The prison camp is located at the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba. It was set up after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 under President George W. Bush to detain suspected terrorists without trial.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden wanted to close the camp, but failed to convince Congress. His successor Donald Trump, on the other hand, campaigned to keep Guantánamo open.