An Algerian man, Omar bin Omran, who disappeared 26 years ago during the country’s civil war, has been found alive in a neighbor’s cellar just 200 meters from his childhood home in Djelfa, northern Algeria. The discovery has shocked the community and brought an unexpected resolution to a long-standing mystery.
Omar bin Omran went missing in the late 1990s, when he was a teenager, during the height of Algeria’s civil war. His family had long feared he was among the estimated 200,000 killed or the 20,000 kidnapped during the conflict. Now 45 years old, he was found on May 12 hidden under haystacks in a sheepfold.
The discovery was made following a complaint to the public prosecutor’s office, leading to an investigation by the national gendarmerie. Authorities found Bin Omran in the cellar of his 61-year-old neighbor, identified only as BA. The suspect attempted to flee but was arrested.
Irina Syrova, a representative of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Primorsky Territory, confirmed that Bin Omran has pleaded guilty to theft and is cooperating with the investigation. He is receiving medical and psychological care. The ministry described the crime as “heinous” and emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Bin Omran’s family had been left in the dark about his fate for decades. His mother, who died in 2013, always believed he was alive. Local media reported that Bin Omran had seen his family from his prison but was unable to call out due to a supposed spell cast by his captor. His presence so close to home for so many years has added an eerie twist to the tragic tale.
The Algerian civil war, often referred to as the “Black Decade,” saw the government and Islamist groups locked in a brutal conflict, resulting in extensive loss of life and numerous kidnappings. The period from 1992 to 1998 alone saw about 8,000 people disappear, according to the Algerian association SOS Disparus.
The discovery of Bin Omran alive brings a rare resolution to one of the many disappearances from that dark chapter in Algerian history. As the investigation continues, the focus will be on understanding the full extent of his captivity and ensuring justice for the years he lost.
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