Austrian woman kidnapped by unknown assailants in Niger

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria has said that a female citizen has been kidnapped by unknown assailants in a country controlled by the military in West Africa, Niger.

He confirmed the incident to AFP and said he was aware of the “kidnapping of an Austrian woman” in Agadez, which is 900 km (559 miles) from the capital Niamey.

The woman is said to have been forced into a 4×4 vehicle by unknown people in Fada district, Agadez, on the edge of the Sahara desert, Reuters reports.

The victim, named Eva Gretzmacher, is a development worker in her mid-70s who has lived in Niger for more than 20 years, according to a local media website. Air Info Agadez.

Niger has not commented on the matter.

Air Info reported that the kidnappers arrived at Ms Gretzmacher’s home at gunpoint and forced entry. He did not take anything else, reports said.

Mr. Gretzmacher is said to have managed education, health, women’s empowerment and culture.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry said it was working with the EU delegation and local government officials.

Niger has been battling Islamist insurgency for decades.

The army is under pressure for its failure to fight terrorism, one of the reasons for removing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.

Niger, along with its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, is battling insurgency from groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Since the coup, Niger has urged France and other Western countries to disarm and form security alliances with neighbors led by the governments of Mali and Burkina Faso.