The United States Department of Defense has announced the repatriation of Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 17, the US government confirmed that Bajabu, a Kenyan national, would be handed over to the Kenyan government as part of efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay facility.
The Department of Defense explained that a review conducted in 2021 determined that Bajabu no longer posed a significant threat to national security, leading to the decision to transfer him.
“On December 27, 2021, the Periodic Review Board (PRB) concluded that continued detention of Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu (ISN 10025) was no longer necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the national security of the United States. The PRB recommended his transfer, subject to appropriate security assurances,” the statement noted.
Secretary of Defense Austin informed Congress on November 14, 2024, of his intention to repatriate Bajabu to Kenya.
Bajabu was arrested in 2007 and accused of facilitating Al-Qaeda activities in East Africa. The Guantanamo Bay facility, known for holding terror suspects, is operated by the US military and has faced criticism for its conditions over the years.
As of now, 29 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay, including 15 eligible for transfer, 3 eligible for a Periodic Review Board, 7 involved in military commissions, and 4 who have been convicted and sentenced by military commissions.
