List of Algerian detainees at Guantanamo Bay

United States Department of Defense

Company type	Government department
Industry	Defense
Founded	January 26, 1947 (1947-01-26)
Headquarters	Washington, D.C. , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Secretary of Defense
Website	www.defense.gov

The United States Department of Defense confirms detaining approximately a dozen Algerian inmates at Guantanamo. Nevertheless, an Algerian government statement dated August 21, 2016, indicated tracking 28 Algerian detainees, with both nations concurring that only two remained in American custody.

Since its establishment on January 11, 2002, the Guantanamo Bay detention camps located in Cuba have held a total of 778 detainees. The detainee count reached its highest point near 660 in early 2004 before numerous releases took place. Following the United States Supreme Court decision in the 2004 Rasul v. Bush case, which upheld detainees' habeas corpus rights, only nineteen additional captives classified as "high value detainees" were transferred.

An Algerian delegation visited Guantanamo on March 3, 2008; at that time, the Department of Defense reported seventeen Algerian nationals were detained.

Release negotiations

On June 23, 2008, Farouk Ksentini, head of Algeria's Advisory Human Rights Commission, revealed that repatriation discussions had stalled due to conditions imposed by the United States that Algeria found unacceptable. The report criticized Sandra Hodgkinson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Affairs, for lacking full transparency.

The Department of Defense announced on July 2, 2008, the transfer of two Algerians back to their country, initially withholding their names. The following day, the Miami Herald disclosed their identities as Mustafa Hamlily and Abdul Raham Hourari.

On August 30, 2013, the DOD repatriated two additional Algerians—Nabil Hadjarab and Mutij Sayyab—bringing Guantanamo’s detainee count down to 164.

Algerian detainees in Guantanamo

isn	name	arrival date	departure date	notes
70	Abdul Rahim Houari	2002-02-08	2008-07-02	Alleged training at an Afghan military camp. Returned to Algeria July 2, 2008.
175	Hassan Mujamma Rabai Said	2002-05-01	2009-01-17	Allegedly connected to a senior al Qaeda operative via seized hard drives. Alleged attendance at Al Farouq training camp and role as supply clerk in Tora Bora. Alleged bodyguard for Osama bin Laden; captured alongside thirty other Arabs. Detained at Guantanamo as of November 25, 2008.
284	Mohammed 'Abd Al Qadir	2002-01-21	2008-08-25	Allegedly trained at an Afghan military camp and stayed in suspect guest houses. Returned to Algeria August 25, 2008.
288	Mutij Sadiz Ahmad Sayab	2002-01-21	2013-08-28	Allegedly stayed at suspect guest houses; arrested after fleeing to Pakistan post-9/11. Allegedly had knowledge of the September 11 attacks. Transferred back to Algeria August 29, 2013.
290	Ahmed Bin Saleh Bel Bacha	2002-02-09	2014-03-13	Allegedly attended Finsbury Park Mosque and stayed with al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan. Allegedly met Osama bin Laden. Repatriated March 13, 2014.
292	Abdulli Feghoul	2002-02-15	2008-08-25	Returned to Algeria August 26, 2008.
310	Djamel Ameziane	2002-02-12	2013-12-05	Allegedly worshipped at suspicious mosques in Montreal; stayed in suspect guest houses in Afghanistan. Repatriated December 5, 2013.
311	Farhi Saeed bin Mohammed	2002-02-11		Tribunal confirmed enemy combatant; resided in Europe during the 1990s. Allegedly trained at an Afghan military camp; traveled using a stolen passport. Still detained as of November 25, 2008.
533	Hassan Zumiri	2002-05-01	2010-01-20	Allegedly used a stolen passport; lent Ahmed Ressam money and equipment before the Los Angeles Airport bombing attempt. Alleged involvement in bank fraud during five years residing in Canada.
659	Sameur Abdenour	2002-06-16	2007-12-19	Allegedly trained at an Afghan military camp; legal UK resident who traveled lawfully to Afghanistan. Returned to the UK December 19, 2007; released without charges.
694	Sufyian Barhoumi	2002-06-18	2022-04-02	Facing charges before Guantanamo military commission; captured in Faisalabad safe house with others charged similarly. Alleged bomb-maker and trainer; lost fingers during training or explosion incident. Denied plans for attacks within the USA; reported abuse while detained at Guantanamo.
703	Ahmed bin Kadr Labed	2002-08-05	2008-11-10	Allegedly trained at an Afghan military facility; apprehended in Faisalabad safe house with others facing charges. Served on front lines; spent much of the ’90s involved in minor crimes throughout Europe. Claimed travel to Afghanistan was for drug purchases; allegedly aware of a dirty bomb plot involving José Padilla.
705	Mustafa Ahmed Hamlily	2002-08-05	2008-07-02	Worked for charities suspected of ties to al Qaeda; testified as humanitarian aid worker in Pakistan for ten years. Returned to Algeria July 2, 2008.
718	Fethi Boucetta	2002-08-05	2006-11-17	Arrested within a Pakistani refugee camp where he lived and worked; denied any terrorism links or travel to Afghanistan. Classified as not an enemy combatant; transferred to refugee camp in Albania November 17, 2006.
744	Aziz Abdul Naji	2002-08-05	2010-07-20	Won habeas corpus petition; transferred back to Algeria against his wishes.
939	Mammar Ameur	2003-03-23	2008-10-06	Allegedly captured inside an al-Qaeda safe house; worked for charity linked to terrorism allegations. Testified that allegations were false and that capture occurred at home rather than safe house. Repatriated October 8, 2008.
1016	Soufian Abar Huwari	2003-05-09	2008-10-06
1452	Adil Hadi bin Hamlili		2010-01-20

Algerian Six

At Guantanamo Bay, there are six detainees who were born in Algeria but hold citizenship in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These individuals are collectively referred to as the Algerian Six.

Repatriation

The Department of Defense has officially confirmed the return of seven Algerian nationals: Abdul Raham Houari, Mohammed Abd Al Al Qadir, Sameur Abdenour, Mustafa Ahmed Hamlily, Fethi Boucetta, Mammar Ameur, and Soufian Abar Huwari. Initially, their identities were not made public.

During the G20 Summit held in Strasbourg on April 3, 2009, French President Nicolai Sarkozy declared that France would grant asylum to a former detainee from Guantanamo, highlighting international efforts to support detainee resettlement.