Two European women, an Austrian and a Swiss, were freed after 18 months in captivity in Niger and arrived in Benghazi, Libya.

What it means

Two European women, one Austrian and one Swiss, have been freed after 18 months in captivity in Niger. They were kidnapped by suspected jihadists and have now been released, arriving in Benghazi, Libya. Their release marks the end of a prolonged hostage ordeal and was confirmed by Austrian and Swiss authorities.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is well-supported by multiple reputable news outlets (BBC, AP, France24, etc.) citing official confirmations from Austrian and Swiss governments. The consistency across sources indicates high reliability.

How new

This is genuinely new reporting from October 21-22, 2026.

Go deeper

• The Straits Times — first to publish