Viennese son fights for mother: hostages in Niger - what's behind it?

Viennese son fights for mother: hostages in Niger - what's behind it?

Christoph Gretzmacher, the son of a 73-year-old Viennese woman, hopes for the early return of his mother, Eva G., who has been in the hands of kidnappers in Niger since April 21, 2025. Despite the difficult situation, he has no direct contact with the kidnappers and expresses the suspicion that the same perpetrators could also be responsible for the kidnapping of a 67-year-old Swiss woman. Gretzmacher, who lived in the Nigerien city of Agadez, has an extensive local network and is concerned about developments in the region. He believes that Switzerland, through its active role, can exert political pressure on local and regional actors to advance the case.

Recent reports indicate that Eva G. is said to be doing well as the kidnapping continues to attract international attention. Critics point out that recent developments in the Sahel region, where the kidnappers operate, are characterized by an ongoing wave of kidnappings of European citizens. There have been several incidents since the beginning of 2023, including the kidnapping of Eva Gretzmacher on January 11th in Niger, where armed men took her from her house and disappeared in unknown directions. These incidents shed light on the dangerous security situation in the region, which is currently characterized by military unrest and the influence of extremist groups.

Security situation in the Sahel region

The security situation in the Sahel region has worsened in recent years. Military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, combined with the influence of violent extremists, pose a major threat to the local population. In this context, the governments of several countries, including the Austrian Foreign Ministry, are warning of a high risk of attacks and kidnappings in the region. One reason for this could be the restructuring of terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State of Sahel (ISSP), which are increasingly handing over control of kidnappings to local gangs.

The number of kidnappings of foreigners in 2025 has increased unprecedentedly. Observers mention that kidnappings coordinated by the ISSP are increasing and the group has networked with other armed organizations. Reports on the difficulties Nigerien security forces are having in combating these threats show that armed resistance is increasing in the region and the government's ability to address the challenges is severely limited.

• Die Sahelzone umfasst Länder wie Mali, Niger, Tschad und Burkina Faso, die zu den ärmsten Ländern der Welt gehören.
• Die Region leidet unter extremen Herausforderungen, darunter Armut, Nahrungskrisen und hohe Bevölkerungszahlen, die Risiken von Migration und Verbrechen erhöhen.
• 41 Millionen Menschen in dieser Region stehen vor Hoffnungslosigkeit, was eine Anwerbung durch extremistische Organisationen begünstigt.

An expert has recently confirmed that there is an increase in kidnappings of foreign nationals in the Sahel region. The Islamist terrorist militia JNIM has denied involvement in the kidnapping of Eva G., but the situation remains extremely tense. While the governments of the affected countries and international actors seek solutions, they must also face the fact that jihadists are trying to expand their activities in neighboring countries and establish new corridors for their operations.

Overall, the situation in the Sahel and the risk of kidnappings is a constant issue that requires particular attention given the worsening political and security situation. The return of Eva G. and other abducted people remains a key concern for families and governments in Europe.