Two European women freed in Libya after over a year held in Niger
Swiss and Austrian nationals were kidnapped separately in Niger and have now been handed over to authorities in Benghazi.
Two European women, a Swiss national and an Austrian, have been freed in Libya after being held captive for more than a year in Niger. The women, identified as Eva Gretzmacher, 76, and Claudia Abbt, 69, were kidnapped separately in the northern Nigerien city of Agadez in January and April of last year.
Neither the identity of their captors nor their specific demands have been disclosed, although unconfirmed reports have previously linked the kidnappings to Islamic State militants. The circumstances surrounding their release were also not made public.
Libyan officials stated that the women would be transferred to the authorities of their respective countries once all necessary procedures were completed. Footage broadcast by Libya's al-Masar TV showed the two women entering what appeared to be an ambulance and receiving attention from a healthcare worker.
In statements made in French, Gretzmacher and Abbt expressed gratitude to Khalifa Haftar, the military commander of eastern Libya, and his son, Saddam Haftar, for their release.
Gretzmacher, a former aid worker, had resided in Niger for many years. Abbt had also spent several years living and working as a community worker in Agadez.
Reports indicate that a plane was scheduled to depart from Benghazi on Thursday. The aircraft was expected to make an initial stop in Vienna to transfer Gretzmacher to Austrian authorities before continuing its journey to Switzerland with Abbt. This information was reported by the privately owned Air Info Agadez news outlet.
Libya has faced significant instability since the 2011 uprising that led to the ousting of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, resulting in a division between two administrations: one in the east supported by Haftar and another in the west, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah.
Niger and the wider Sahel region have experienced prolonged periods of jihadist violence, including kidnappings and deadly attacks attributed to various groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Niger has been under military rule since 2023, following the deposition of elected President Mohamed Bazoum by General Abdourahmane Tchiani.