NIAMEY, Niger — A woman from Austria has been abducted by armed assailants in the city of Agadez, as confirmed by locals and officials from the Austrian Foreign Ministry on Sunday. This marks the first known instance of a European citizen being kidnapped in the troubled West African nation since a military junta seized power in 2023.
According to the ministry, Austria’s embassy in Algeria, which also oversees diplomatic matters for Niger, has been notified about the abduction and is currently coordinating with local authorities regarding the incident.
Local residents and media outlets have identified the victim as Eva Gretzmacher. Reports indicate that she is an aid worker who has dedicated over 20 years of her life to Agadez, a considerable distance from the national capital, Niamey.
Gretzmacher has been recognized for her extensive social work. She established a skills center in 2010 that has launched numerous initiatives focusing on education, women’s empowerment, ecological projects, culture, and the arts, according to Air Info Agadez, a local news source.
Additionally, she has contributed to educational programs and has provided support to various local NGOs in multiple sectors, as noted by local media reports.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for her kidnapping, and Nigerien authorities have yet to release a statement regarding the incident.
Niger has long faced challenges from jihadi groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, a security dilemma that experts feel has intensified since the military coup in July 2023. Despite the junta’s promises to restore safety in conflict-ridden areas, skepticism regarding their ability to enhance Niger’s security has grown in light of escalating violence.
This country was previously regarded as one of the last stable democracies in Africa’s Sahel region, which Western nations sought to work with in combating the jihadi threat in the vast areas below the Sahara Desert. However, Niger has recently terminated longstanding military cooperation with Western nations and has turned to Russia for new security alliances.
