Vienna, Oct 22. (dpa/GNA) – An Austrian woman and a Swiss woman kidnapped in Niger in 2025, have been freed, the two countries’ foreign ministries confirmed on Thursday.
Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, said the ordeal had placed an unimaginable burden on the Austrian woman and her family. After speaking to the freed woman by telephone, Meinl-Reisinger said she had come away with a positive impression.
“She seems to be doing well so far, and I am very impressed by this strong woman,” the minister said. The Swiss woman was also doing “well under the circumstances” and was already on her way back to Switzerland, according to the Swiss Foreign Ministry.
Swiss Foreign Minister, Ignazio Cassis, thanked “all those involved” in securing her release, without naming any individuals or organizations.
Earlier, sources in the media department of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) told dpa that the two women, had been taken to the airport in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. According to Libyan sources, their release was made possible through the intervention of Saddam Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA, who acted at the request of their families.
Libyan special forces secured the women’s transfer to Libya, the sources said. Further details about the circumstances of their release were not immediately available.
The Austrian woman was abducted from her home in the desert city of Agadez in January 2025, while the Swiss woman was kidnapped from her home in the same city in April 2025. Both women had lived in the West African country for many years and had been involved in education and development projects, among other activities.
Agadez, located north-east of the capital Niamey, had long been considered safe despite conflicts in the wider region. According to security sources, intermediaries abducted the women before handing them over to jihadists from the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in neighbouring Mali.
Libya has been politically and militarily divided for years. Saddam Haftar is the youngest son of Khalifa Haftar, commander of the LNA, which last attempted to capture the western Libyan capital Tripoli in 2020.
While Haftar, his family and allies control much of eastern and southern Libya, the internationally recognized government of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah is based in Tripoli.
The rival administrations, numerous militias and foreign powers continue to compete for resources and influence in the oil-rich North African country.
The border region shared by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is considered one of the world’s most dangerous areas due to the spread of Islamist militant groups.
The security situation in Niger has deteriorated significantly in recent months.
GNA