An Austrian woman was abducted by armed individuals in Agadez city, Niger, as confirmed by local residents and the Austrian Foreign Ministry. This incident marks the first known case of a European national being taken captive in the conflict-ridden West African country following a military coup in 2023.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry disclosed that the Austrian Embassy in Algeria, which oversees matters concerning Niger, had been notified about the abduction of an Austrian woman in Agadez. The embassy is actively engaging with local authorities in the region to address the situation.
According to reports from residents and local media, the victim, identified as Eva Gretzmacher, is a long-term resident of Agadez, where she has been residing for over two decades. Gretzmacher is known to be an aid worker recognized for her significant social contributions. She established a skills center in 2010 that has spearheaded various projects focusing on education, women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, cultural initiatives, and the arts, as highlighted by the local Air Info Agadez.
Gretzmacher also supported education programs through her development work and provided assistance to local non-government organisations in various sectors, local media said.
No group claimed responsibility for her abduction and authorities in Niger did not immediately comment on the incident.
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Niger has for many years battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a security crisis that analysts say has worsened since the military toppled the country’s government in July 2023.
Despite their promise to restore peace in hot spots, the junta’s capacity to improve Niger’s security has increasingly been questioned amid increasing attacks.
Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries in Africa’s Sahel region that Western nations could partner with to beat back the jihadi insurgency in the vast expanse below the Sahara Desert.
The country has severed decades-long military ties with the West and turned to Russia as a new security partner.
