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[INTERNATIONAL] · Austria, Switzerland, Libya, Niger · 19 sources

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Austrian and Swiss women freed after captivity in Niger

Niger kidnapping Eva Gretzmacher Claudia Abbt Saddam Haftar Sahel region

An Austrian woman, Eva Gretzmacher, and a Swiss woman, Claudia Abbt, have been released after being held captive in Niger for approximately 18 to 21 months. The two women arrived in Benghazi, Libya, following their release.

Eva Gretzmacher, an aid worker who had lived in Niger for many years, was kidnapped from her home in Agadez in January 2025. Claudia Abbt was abducted in the same city in April 2025. In a video released by the Libyan broadcaster al-Masar TV, both women appeared physically exhausted but expressed gratitude toward Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar and his son, Saddam Haftar, for their intervention in securing their freedom.

The release follows a complex diplomatic process involving the Austrian and Swiss foreign ministries. While the specific group holding the women has not been definitively identified, some reports previously linked the kidnappings to Islamic State militants or regional militias in the Sahel zone.

Entities

Agadez · Amanay · Benghazi · Claudia A. · Claudia Abbt · Eva G. · Eva Gretzmacher · JNIM · Khalifa Haftar · Niger · Saddam Haftar

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Liberadas mujeres austriacas y suizas secuestradas en Níger: informe [www.formosadeportiva.com.ar]
Österreicherin Eva G. nach 21 Monaten Geiselhaft im Niger offenbar frei [www.vol.at]
„Froh, wieder frei zu sein“: Niger-Geiseldrama beendet - Frau aus Österreich freigelassen [www.leinetal24.de]
Niger : deux ex-otages européennes libérées après un passage en Libye [afrikmag.com]
An Austrian and a Swiss woman freed in Niger after a year and half in captivity [www.brandonsun.com]
Austrian and Swiss women freed after 18 months in Niger reach Benghazi, sources say | International [www.devdiscourse.com]
Λιβύη: Στη Βεγγάζη έφθασαν οι δύο γυναίκες που απήχθησαν το 2025 στον Νίγηρα [www.ertnews.gr]
IS-Geisel Eva Gretzmacher: Nach 648 Tagen Gefangenschaft endlich auf dem Heimweg [www.falter.at]
Swiss and Austrian women rescued after year-long captivity in Niger, transferred via Benghazi [kenya-today.com]
„Froh, wieder frei zu sein“: Niger-Geiseldrama beendet - Frau aus Österreich freigelassen [www.kreiszeitung.de]
Libya recovers Swiss, Austrian women kidnapped since 2025 in Niger [www.lindaikejisblog.com]
Swiss, Austrian women freed after year-long captivity in Niger [news.az]
Στη Βεγγάζη δύο Ευρωπαίες που απελευθερώθηκαν έπειτα από 18 μήνες ομηρίας στον Νίγηρα [www.newsbeast.gr]
Im Niger entführte Österreicherin nach 21 Monaten frei [www.suedtirolnews.it]
Im Niger entführte Österreicherin Eva G. nach 21 Monaten offenbar frei [kurier.at]
Zwitserse (69) en Oostenrijkse (76) 1,5 jaar na ontvoering in Niger vrijgelaten [nos.nl]
Im Niger entführte Österreicherin nach 21 Monaten frei | Tiroler Tageszeitung Online [www.tt.com]
Schweizerin nach Entführung in Niger wieder freigelassen [www.watson.ch]
An Austrian and a Swiss woman freed in Niger after a year and half in captivity [www.winnipegfreepress.com]