In brief
The Pentagon's detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, remains operational with just 15 prisoners left as it nears its 24th anniversary. Since its inception in 2002, the facility has seen a significant decrease in detainees after being populated largely under the Bush administration. Over the years, various Presidents have differing views on its fate: President Obama sought closure, while President Trump aimed to maintain a stronghold of "bad dudes." Currently, President Biden expresses intentions to follow through with Obama's closure aims but faces legislative barriers.
The remaining detainees come from diverse backgrounds, including Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen, a stateless Rohingya, and a Palestinian. Most were transferred from CIA facilities after being branded as among the “worst of the worst.” Notably, five of them are implicated in the September 11 attacks, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who was allegedly behind the planning, along with one other being associated with the tragic bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. Both sets of cases remain unresolved and highlight the ongoing complexities and controversies surrounding the detention at Guantánamo Bay.
