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Two European women kidnapped in separate incidents in Niger in 2025 have returned to their home countries after their release following prolonged captivity in the Sahel.
Swiss national Claudia Abbt, 69, and Austrian national Eva Gretzmacher, 76, were repatriated on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after travelling through Benghazi in eastern Libya.
Both women had been living in Agadez, northern Niger, where they were involved in education and development initiatives. Gretzmacher was abducted on January 11, 2025, while Abbt was kidnapped in April that year.
Their release followed months of diplomatic efforts involving their governments and international partners. They reportedly spent part of their captivity in northern Mali before being flown from Nigerien territory to Benghazi on Wednesday, October 21.
The family of eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar reportedly helped broker their freedom, with his son, Saddam Haftar, overseeing the operation. During a brief appearance on the eastern-based television channel Al-Masar, the women thanked the family for its role in securing their release.
No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions. However, security sources and intelligence specialists familiar with the case have linked their captivity to Islamic State’s Sahel affiliate.
The Austrian and Swiss foreign ministries confirmed the women’s release, crediting sustained diplomatic engagement and cooperation with international partners. Switzerland had also established a task force involving police and intelligence personnel to support efforts to locate Abbt and secure her freedom.
After medical checks and assistance from crisis response teams in Benghazi, Abbt returned to Bern, Switzerland, while Gretzmacher travelled to Vienna, Austria, where she reunited with her family.
Gretzmacher’s captivity lasted more than 21 months, while Abbt was held for approximately 18 months.
Officials from both countries welcomed their safe return but withheld further details about the operation, citing the women’s privacy.
Source: Omanghana
