Niger: France Allegedly Behind Kidnapping of Austrian Woman
The head of state said that a certain "Boubacrar Dabounguel" had been commissioned by Paris to recruit "three bandits: Momo, Ibrahim, and Oumar," reported the Nigerien info portal "Aïr Info" (online). Among other things, they had kidnapped the Austrian woman Eva G.
According to Tiani, it was these criminals who also kidnapped a Spaniard in Tamanrasset in southern Algeria and a Swiss woman in Agadez in northern Niger. General Tiani explained in the interview with national television that these kidnappings were aimed at "discouraging investors" and "forcing the European Union to stay on France's side to return to Niger."
The Nigerien military had overthrown the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023 and taken power in the former French colony. Since then, Niger has been in a bitter dispute with France. The former colonial power was accused of massive exploitation of the African country, whose population is one of the poorest in the world. Until 2020, France obtained nearly a fifth of its uranium from Niger. Uranium can be used both as fuel for nuclear power plants and for nuclear weapons. Niger, like its neighbors, has established close relations with Russia. According to media reports, Iran is also interested in purchasing uranium reserves for its nuclear program.
EU Special Envoy for Sahel in Austria
Meanwhile, the EU Special Envoy for the Sahel region, João Cravinho, is expected in Austria. He will meet with Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) and give a lecture at the Bruno Kreisky Forum in Vienna on Tuesday evening. Cravinho will speak on the topic "After the Violent Divorce: What Approach for the Relations between the EU and the Sahel?" The security situation in the Sahel region is highly tense following military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and the withdrawal of Western troops. His office recently told APA that they are "following the kidnapping case of Eva G. on the ground through our delegation in Niamey and are in contact with the responsible Austrian embassy to establish the appropriate contacts on site."
The 74-year-old Eva G., who has lived in Niger for almost three decades, 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. According to information from "Aïr Info," the woman is being held by IS in the Sahel region (ISGS or ISSP) on Malian territory. This has not been confirmed by official Nigerien sources. The Austrian Foreign Ministry has sent a crisis team to the region.
(APA/Red)
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