A Guantanamo Bay detainee who had been in federal custody for 14 years has been transferred to Montenegro, according to a statement from the Pentagon late Wednesday.
“The United States is grateful to the Government of Montenegro for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” the Pentagon said. “The United States coordinated with the Government of Montenegro to ensure this transfer took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.”
Yemeni citizen Malik Ahmed Abdel Wahab al-Rahabi arrived at the naval base in Cuba back in 2002 after being accused of serving as a bodyguard for the late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
In December 2014, a U.S. review board said al-Rahabi no longer posed a serious security threat to the U.S. and would make a good candidate for transfer.
Al-Rahabi leaves behind 79 detainees still at Guantanamo. President Obama has pushed for the closure of the prison throughout his two terms in office.
