After the Abduction of Austrian Woman in Niger: Foreign Ministry Working on a Solution

The son of the kidnapped Austrian described the last half year in a statement as "six months of silence, six months of diplomatic limbo, six months between hope and attrition." When asked, the Foreign Ministry stated that they are "intensively working on resolving the case."

Foreign Ministry "permanently on site" after kidnapping of Austrian in Niger

The 74-year-old Eva G. was kidnapped from her home in the Nigerien desert city of Agadez on January 11. Several sources from the region suspect that the kidnappers were bandits who sold the hostage to the "Islamic State" (IS). According to information from the Nigerien info portal "Aïr Info," the woman is being held by IS in the Sahel zone (ISGS or ISSP) on Malian territory. To this day, there is no official confirmation of her whereabouts, said Gretzmacher. He also reported a video confirming that his mother is in captivity along with a Swiss hostage who was kidnapped in the same manner on April 13.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized to the APA that a crisis team is "permanently on site." The team "conducts investigations and pursues all leads with determination." A crisis unit was established in the Foreign Ministry immediately after the kidnapping of Eva G. became known. The authority states that it is "in close contact at all levels with the Swiss authorities, the EU, numerous other partners, and the local authorities, as well as with the family of the kidnapped." The Foreign Ministry also points out that "a discreet public communication is pursued in kidnapping cases for security reasons."

(APA/Red)

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