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U.S. Repatriates Tunisian Detainee Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi to Tunisia After 23 Years at Guantanamo Bay

Dec 31, 2024, 08:10 AM

The U.S. Department of Defense announced the repatriation of Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi, a Tunisian detainee held at Guantanamo Bay since its opening in 2002, to Tunisia. Al-Yazidi, aged 59, was never charged with a crime during his nearly 23-year detention, which spanned 22 years. He was captured in 2001 and suspected of being an al-Qaeda fighter. His transfer was approved following a rigorous interagency review process, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin notified Congress of his intent to support the repatriation in January 2024. The move leaves 26 detainees remaining at Guantanamo Bay, with 14 eligible for transfer. This repatriation marks the fourth transfer in two weeks under the Biden administration's efforts to reduce the prison's population.