Algeria revives efforts to extradite remaining Guantanamo detainees

Algeria is working to bring home its eight remaining Algerian detainees from the notorious military prison, Guantanamo Bay.

Justice Minister, Tayeb Louh, said that the Algerian government has initiated efforts to extradite eight Algerian detainees who remain in the prison without trial.

At a joint press conference with his French counterpart Christian Tobira, he announced that there are current ongoing legal proceedings to attempt to receive the remaining detainees.

"Years ago, Algeria sent a delegation representing the ministry of justice to address the Guantanamo detainees who have not yet been subject to trial," said Louh.

There were originally 26 Algerian detainees in Guantanamo, most of whom were imprisoned under terror-related offences. 

Negotiations between Algeria and the US succeeded in freeing eight of them.

Ahmed Bin Saleh Bel Bacha was the last Algerian prisoner to be released in 2014. 

Upon his return to Algeria in Novemeber he was convicted of belonging to a terrorist organisation and was sentenced to three years in prison.

A leaked US threat assessment file for Bacha completed in 2005 says he was a veteran of the Algerian Army.