Seven years of enforced disappearance came to an abrupt end on a sidewalk in Aden, when residents found Adel Saif Abduljalil, originally from the Sharab Al-Rawnah area in Taiz province, after unknown individuals left him in the street in a state of extreme exhaustion and shock.

According to his initial testimony to those who assisted him, Adel confirmed that he had been detained for seven years without any contact with his family. He said he was taken out of his place of detention under the cover of darkness on Wednesday evening. His eyes were blindfolded, and he was transported by car to an unknown location before being abandoned and quickly left behind by his captors. He stated: “I was taken out of detention, they covered my eyes and transported me by car, then left me in this place and departed quickly.”

Local sources and activists have circulated accusations suggesting that the abduction and detention were carried out by security entities affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council.

Human rights advocates are calling for a transparent and independent investigation to uncover the circumstances of the young man’s detention over these years and to clearly determine legal responsibilities.

Residents of Aden rushed to provide Adel with initial care, amid calls for urgent medical and psychological support given the long period of isolation from the outside world and the potentially deep psychological impact.

Efforts are currently underway to locate his family in Sharab Al-Rawnah to inform them of his return, after seven years of absence that weighed heavily on them with anxiety and anticipation.

Adel’s case once again highlights the file of detainees and forcibly disappeared persons in Yemen’s southern governorates — a file that remains open and painful for dozens of families awaiting clear answers about the fate of their loved ones.

Between the moment he was found and his attempt to reclaim his life, the full truth about how to compensate for the years of detention and suffering remains a humanitarian and legal demand that cannot be delayed.