Following more than a year in captivity, an Austrian woman and a Swiss woman kidnapped in Niger have arrived in the eastern Libyan city of Benghází, idnes.cz reported. The rescue operation was directed by Saddam Haftar, the deputy commander of the Libyan armed forces, according to two unnamed officials.
Arrival in Benghází After Months in Captivity
The two women, held for over a year in the West African nation of Niger, touched down safely in Benghází, Libya. Austrian authorities identified the Austrian citizen as Eva Gretzmacher, who is over 70 years old. She was taken in January 2025 from the desert town of Agadez in central Niger. The Swiss citizen, identified by human rights organizations as Claudia Abbt, was abducted in April 2025.
Officials stated that both women will be transferred to the authorities of their respective home countries once necessary administrative steps are completed. Neither local authorities nor international observers have clarified which militant group held the hostages or whether any specific demands were made during their prolonged captivity.
The Security Crisis Across the Central Sahel
The kidnappings took place against a backdrop of escalating violence in Niger and neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso. These nations have faced intense jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which originally spread from an uprising in northern Mali in 2012. Over the past decade, the resulting conflict has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions of residents throughout the central Sahel region.
Two Women Reach Libya Safely After Niger Abductions
- January 2025: Eva Gretzmacher, over 70, is abducted in Agadez, central Niger.
- April 2025: Claudia Abbt is kidnapped in Niger.
- Current Status: Both women arrive safely in Benghází, Libya, following an operation led by Saddam Haftar.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Niger Hostage Release
Which militant group held the Austrian and Swiss women in Niger?
Neither local officials nor international monitors have clarified which specific group carried out the abductions or held Eva Gretzmacher and Claudia Abbt during their time in captivity.
Who directed the rescue and transfer operation?
Two unnamed officials confirmed that the operation to secure and transfer the women was directed by Saddam Haftar, the deputy commander of the Libyan armed forces.
When and where were the two women originally abducted?
Eva Gretzmacher was seized in January 2025 in the desert town of Agadez in central Niger, while Claudia Abbt was kidnapped in April 2025.
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