There is still no trace of the Austrian woman kidnapped in Niger and no idea who might have kidnapped her. “The silence is a bit frightening,” said the family member, who did not want to be named.
The kidnapping of a 73-year-old Austrian woman in Agadez, Niger has been described as unprofessional by the family of the kidnapped 73-year-old Viennese woman. It does not indicate that ‘super-Salafists have invaded’.
Wienerin was abducted without violence
Five tall men, about thirty years old, entered the activist’s home, resulting in a scuffle with the security guard. A shot fired from a pistol reportedly wounded one of the kidnappers in the leg. Without much force, the woman was forced into a car and taken away. The family emphasized that the kidnappers probably did not know who they had kidnapped. On the one hand, this raises the hope that they are not Islamist terrorists, but on the other hand it also raises concerns about hasty action by the perpetrators.
The fact that the five men wore turbans and spoke Hausa was not particularly noticeable and did not allow any conclusions to be drawn. “A lot of it is speculation, we don’t know anything,” the family said.
The 73-year-old has been active in Niger since 1996 with her self-founded cultural association Amanay. In Agadez, on the edge of the Sahara, she has good ties with both the population and the authorities. Their efforts focus on educating young people in areas such as music, health, ecology and crafts such as tailoring. In 2010, she founded a competence center that promotes intercultural exchange between cultures, religions and people, the family member continues. She is very popular in the region: “Everyone suffers from it.” The woman stays in Niger every year from September to April.
Support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “good”
After the kidnapping, a broad wave of solidarity emerged among the press and the population. The gendarmerie has already interviewed many potential witnesses to obtain information about the perpetrators, their whereabouts and their motives. The family hopes to start negotiations for release. “I know that everything is being done to obtain this information,” said a family member who knows local conditions well. However, without concrete information it is difficult to “comb the desert”.
The family describes the support from the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in Algiers as “very good” and the exchange is going smoothly. The case will be discussed again on Monday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna.
Travel warning for seven years
Since the military coup in Niger in July 2023 and the withdrawal of French troops, the security situation in Agadez has not deteriorated, the family said. The woman was careful and well informed through her network. Still, the case poses a test of the military government’s control over the country.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry has been warning against travel to Niger for almost seven years and is calling on Austrians to leave the country. The security situation for foreigners is considered extremely critical: kidnappings and attacks are possible at any time, including in the capital Niamey.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
