There will still be 41 detainees left at Guantanamo Bay when President Obama leaves office on Friday, despite his promise during the 2008 presidential campaign to close the detention center in Cuba.
On Thursday, Obama, who has expressed frustration over not being able to deliver on his campaign promise, transferred four more Guantanamo Bay detainees to other countries, according to the Pentagon. Jabran al Qahtani is being transferred to Saudi Arabia, while Ravil Mingazov, Haji Wali Muhammed, and Yassim Qasim Mohammed Ismail Qasim will be directed to the United Arab Emirates.
The move could be one of Obama’s last major actions before President-elect Trump takes office Friday. Republicans have criticized Obama for these transfers, and Trump has said he will keep the detention center open.
In a letter to Congress on Thursday, Obama wrote: “As president, I have tried to close Guantanamo. When I inherited this challenge, it was widely recognized that the facility — which many around the world continue to condemn — needed to close. Unfortunately, what had previously been bipartisan support for closure suddenly became a partisan issue.”
A Periodic Review Board determined on Nov. 21 that “continued law of war detention of Qahtani does not remain necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States.” Mingazov’s determination took place July 21, Muhammed’s on Sept. 26 and Qasim’s on Dec. 8.
The board was created in 2011 through an executive order by Obama.
