The Swiss and Austrian governments today confirmed the release of two women, one from each country, held hostage for months in Niger, who are already in the care of authorities in their respective countries.
© Reuters
22/10/2026
by
Lusa
Othe Swiss and Austrian governments today confirmed the release of two women, one from each country, held hostage for months in Niger, adding that they are already in the care of authorities in their respective countries.
An Austrian woman, arrested more than 21 months ago, and a Swiss woman, abducted 18 months ago, was released thanks to the intervention of Libyan officials, the Libyan al-Masar TV station announced on Wednesday evening.
“ Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar [probably successor of the Eastern Libyan military leader] intervened in efforts to release them in response to their families’ appeals,” added al-Masar TV on social network X.
Today, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the first to confirm the release of the citizen of this country abducted on April 13, 2025.
“ You're free now. He was welcomed in Bengasi, Libya, by Swiss employees of the federal administration and received medical attention,” the ministry announced in a statement, stating that the 69-year-old woman “is well, given the circumstances” and that “is on her way to Switzerland.”.
For “private life protection” reasons, no other information was provided on their return to Switzerland.
In Vienna of Austria, the Austrian Foreign Minister stated shortly afterwards, in a statement, her relief “for Eva G. to be free again after more than 21 months”.
“The Austrian woman kidnapped on 11 January 2025 was collected on 22 October 2026 by an Austrian crisis team,” added Beate Meinl-Reisinger.
Both countries thanked their international partners who worked for these releases.
In a video released on Wednesday night by al-Masar TV, based in eastern Libya, Swiss and Austrian citizens appeared tired.
Sitting under a portrait of Marshal Haftar, they spoke in French to thank their liberators.
“ My name is Eva Gretzmacher, I'm Austrian, I'm 76 years old. I wholeheartedly thank Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his son Saddam, who set us free. One year and nine months in captivity,” said the Austrian citizen.
The Swiss citizen also made an identical statement “I am Claudia Abbt. I'm of Swiss origin. I'm 69 years old. I was taken hostage a year and six months ago. Now I am glad to be free and thank Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his son, General Saddam Haftar, for all they have done to free me.”.
Libya has been marked by divisions since the fall of Muammar Gadhafi in 2011 and two governments dispute power in the oaís: one led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, recognized by the UN and based in Tripoli, and another in the East, controlled by Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his clan.
The abductions of the two women who lived in Agadez (north Niger) at the time of their abductions were never claimed.