Two European Women Freed After More Than 18 Months in Niger Captivity

Two European women abducted separately in Niger in 2025 have been released after more than 18 months in captivity, with Austrian national Eva Gretzmacher and Swiss citizen Claudia Abbt arriving in Benghazi, eastern Libya, before being handed over to authorities from their respective countries.

The women’s release was confirmed on Thursday, October 22, by Austrian and Swiss authorities. Their freedom followed a prolonged period of diplomatic efforts, although officials have not publicly disclosed the full circumstances of their release, the identity of their captors or whether any demands were made.

Gretzmacher, 76, was abducted from her home in Agadez, a city in northern Niger, on January 11, 2025. She had lived in Niger for many years and worked as an aid worker. Abbt, 69, was kidnapped in the same city in April 2025, around three months later. Both women remained in captivity until their transfer to Benghazi on Wednesday, October 21.

Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said the government was relieved that Gretzmacher had been freed after more than 21 months. She credited sustained diplomatic work involving Switzerland and regional, European and international partners, describing the process as discreet and complex.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also confirmed the release of his country’s citizen. Switzerland’s foreign ministry said officials met Abbt in Benghazi, where she received medical attention, and reported that she was doing well under the circumstances and was on her way back to Switzerland. Austria’s crisis-response team received Gretzmacher following her release.

Reports from Reuters, citing officials who spoke anonymously, said the operation was overseen by Saddam Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of Libya’s armed forces. Libyan television also reported that the women had been freed through the intervention of Haftar, the son of eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar. However, the Austrian and Swiss governments have not publicly set out a detailed account of the operation or confirmed all reports about the individuals involved.

The abductions took place amid persistent insecurity across the Sahel, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have carried out attacks and kidnappings. Niger has faced a prolonged jihadist insurgency, particularly in areas affected by instability spreading across the central Sahel. Security concerns intensified after a military coup in July 2023, when the government of President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown.

Although some media reports have linked the women’s abductions to Islamic State militants operating in the Sahel, the authorities have not publicly confirmed who held them. No verified details have emerged about the conditions of their captivity or whether a ransom was demanded or paid.

The case also highlights the risks faced by foreign residents and aid workers in parts of the region, including people who have lived and worked in local communities for years. Both women were abducted in Agadez, a strategic Saharan city and gateway to northern Niger, where security challenges intersect with cross-border movement and regional instability.

Their release brings a close to two prolonged hostage cases and underscores the role of international and regional cooperation in efforts to secure the freedom of people abducted across borders. With the details of the operation still largely undisclosed, the confirmed outcome is that both women are free, have received assistance in Libya and are being returned to their home countries.