A Swiss woman has been abducted in Agadez, Niger, the same city where an Austrian woman was kidnapped three months prior, according to officials.
The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed the abduction of the woman, believed to be in her 60s and a long-time resident of Niger.
The woman was taken from her home in Agadez city on Sunday night, mirroring the kidnapping of 73-year-old Austrian resident Eva Gretzmacher.
Agadez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has seen a decline in tourism due to regional insecurity.
The security situation in Niger has deteriorated, with the US military recently closing a surveillance base and withdrawing troops.
Niger’s military leaders have also severed ties with France and expelled French and US forces, aligning the country more closely with Russia, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
Local authorities held an emergency meeting to address the kidnapping and determine appropriate actions.
The region is plagued by terrorist activity, including groups affiliated with Islamic State. In January, Niger’s army recovered trucks used by kidnapped Moroccan drivers near the Burkina Faso border.
The abducted Swiss woman, originally from Lebanon, had lived in Agadez for several years, following a period in Algeria where she was involved in tourism.
She had established an association to support local artisans.
Those who knew her described her as friendly and dedicated to humanitarian work.
She was married to a Nigerien camel breeder and had not expressed any particular concerns in recent conversations.
Niger, under military rule since a 2023 coup, faces ongoing insecurity and attacks from various armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
