Guantanamo’s number of inmates falls to less than 100 for first time as 10 detainees are moved to Oman

Ten Yemeni men held at Guantanamo Bay were sent to Oman on Thursday

10 Yemeni prisoners were sent to Oman until they can return home (Getty)

Guantanamo Bay’s number of inmates has fallen below 100 for the first time as 10 Yemeni detainees were sent to Oman and President Obama ramps up efforts to shut down the prison.

President Obama wanted to shut down the prison altogether when he entered the White House in 2009 but has failed to do so against a Republican-led Congress.

However, the Yemeni prisoners being moved on Thursday is the largest group of inmates to be released since he stepped into power.

Four other prisoners were moved earlier in January, according to Reuters.

There are now 93 prisoners in the US military prison in Cuba, the lowest number since 2002. The number of prisoners reached a peak of 680 in 2003 after former President George W. Bush stepped up his war on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday he is preparing a plan to house the remaining detainees in a secure facility in the US.

“That plan will propose bringing those detainees to an appropriate, secure location in the United States,” Mr Carter said, as reported by CNN. ”While we work with Congress on a way forward, we will continue to transfer Guantanamo detainees to other countries when and as we have mitigated the risk to the United States.“

The 10 Yemeni inmates were held for more than a decade without charge or trial.

Omani state news reported that the Yemeni prisoners would remain in the country for humanitarian reasons and would be sent home once conditions improve.

Their release has extended the line of releases that President Obama has planned for early 2016. The review of the 10 Yemeni prisoners was carried out by interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force, which found the men did not present a security risk.

It is unclear when the plan to move the remaining prisoners will be passed to President Obama, who steps down in January next year.