The United States Pentagon has announced the release of Mohammed Abdul Bajabu, a Kenyan detained at Guantánamo Bay for nearly 17 years over alleged Al Qaeda links. He was repatriated to Kenya, marking the first transfer from the facility in over a year.
Bajabu’s release follows a 2021 decision by the Periodic Review Board, which determined that his detention was no longer necessary to protect U.S. national security. Detained since 2007, Bajabu was accused of involvement in the 2002 Mombasa attacks targeting Israeli tourists but was never formally charged with a crime.
Reprieve US, which represented Bajabu, criticized his detention, stating he was tortured by Kenyan authorities and U.S. personnel. Bajabu’s lawyer noted that he plans to reunite with his family, including sisters in Kenya and his wife and children currently in Somalia.
The Guantánamo Bay facility, established in 2002 during the “war on terror,” has faced global criticism for detaining individuals without trial under a separate military legal system. Once housing 780 detainees, only 29 remain, with 15 eligible for transfer.
The Pentagon reaffirmed its commitment to reducing the Guantánamo population and closing the facility, expressing gratitude for international support in achieving this goal.
