Two Austrian and Swiss women were freed after more than a year of captivity in Niger and were transferred to Libya. This news was reported by Libyan media and indicates that the two women have flown to the city of Benghazi in eastern Libya.
Details of the Release
The Austrian woman, identified by Austrian authorities as Eva G., and the Swiss woman, whose name was previously not disclosed by the Swiss Foreign Ministry, were both kidnapped in 2025 in Niger. Eva G. was abducted in early 2025 in the city of Agadez, and Claudia Abbt was kidnapped in April 2025. Reports indicate that the two women appeared in poor physical condition in a video released by Al-Masar TV in Libya.
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Thanks to Libyan Officials
After their release, both women thanked Khalifa Haftar, the deputy commander of the Libyan armed forces, and his son Saddam Haftar for their freedom. Eva G. stated in the video, "I was in captivity for one year and nine months," and Abbt expressed her happiness and thanked Haftar.
Currently, Libya is facing a political crisis with two governments vying for power. The UN-recognized government, led by Abdulhamid Dbeibah, is competing with its eastern rival, which is supported by Haftar. The long border between Libya and Niger lies in the vast Sahara desert and also borders Algeria and Chad.
The release of these two women comes at a time when Libya is still recovering from the turmoil following the 2011 uprising that led to the ousting of Moammar Gaddafi. This uprising, which was supported by NATO, resulted in chaos and instability in the country, and its effects are still visible in Libyan society.
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