An Austrian woman was kidnapped in Agadez, a desert town in central Niger, on Saturday, according to two Nigerien security sources.
The woman was reportedly taken by unknown assailants in a 4×4 vehicle in the Fada district, located at the edge of the Sahara desert.
Austria’s European and International Affairs Ministry confirmed that its embassy responsible for Niger had been informed about the possible kidnapping.
The embassy is working closely with partner countries, the EU delegation, and regional authorities on the ground to resolve the situation.
Niger’s Interior Ministry has not commented on the incident yet.
The country is currently battling extremist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, which have caused widespread violence and displacement in the region.
The kidnapping highlights the growing security concerns in West Africa’s central Sahel region, where thousands have been killed and millions displaced over the past decade.
