Austrian woman kidnapped in northern Niger by unknown armed men

An Austrian citizen was kidnapped by gunmen in northern Niger on Saturday evening, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.

The men forced their way into the Agadez home of 73-year-old Eva Gretzmacher in the city of Agadez, pointing a gun at her caretaker, according to local media outlet Aïr Info.

They drove Gretzmacher away in a utility vehicle but did not steal any of the possessions in her home. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the abduction, although Gretzmacher faced kidnapping threats back in 2021.

Gretzmacher is a well-known figure in Agadez for her social commitment, a skills centre in 2010 that initiated various projects, notably in education, women’s empowerment, ecology, culture and art, reported Nigerien outlet Aïr Info.

On Monday, the region's Governor Sadou Soloké convened an urgent regional security council meeting.

According to the regional authorities, heightened security measures were immediately implemented after the abduction, with defence and security forces fully mobilised in the search. Soloké urged the public to "increase vigilance" and report suspicious behaviour.

This is the first time a European citizen is known to have been kidnapped in the West African nation since the military junta took power in 2023.

Niger was once viewed as one of the key democratic countries in the Sahel region, which could aid the West in its fight against the Islamist extremist insurgency in sub-Saharan Africa.

After the country's military junta took control in July 2023, Niger severed its decades-long military ties with the West, turning to Russia as its new security partner.