The largest single transfer of Guantánamo Bay detainees of Barack Obama’s presidency was announced on Monday, as 15 long-held men departed the infamous detention center. The transfer, officially announced by the Pentagon on Monday evening, brings the Guantánamo detainee population down to 61. The Guardian reported in May that the Obama administration had reached deals with a half-dozen foreign countries to repatriate approximately two dozen detainees. One of the worst-tortured detainees at Guantánamo, the Mauritanian Mohamedou Slahi, was recently cleared for transfer by the parole-like board. Lee Wolosky, the US state department envoy charged with securing deals with willing nations for Guantánamo transfers, thanked the UAE in a statement.

Source: The Guardian August 15, 2016 20:16 UTC