Reason for arrest unclear
Taliban release four GIZ employees
14.09.2024, 08:45
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
Since the Taliban seized power, the security situation in Afghanistan has been precarious. Some employees of the German organization GIZ have been held captive by the terrorist group for months before being released. GIZ plans to withdraw from the country next year.
Four employees of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) who were held for months by the radical Islamic Taliban in Afghanistan are now free again. This was reported by the “Welt am Sonntag” (WamS) newspaper, citing international security circles. According to the report, the employees with Afghan nationality who were arrested in November 2023 had already been released in the spring.
When asked, the German government did not comment on the release and, according to the newspaper, justified this with “consideration for the safety of the remaining GIZ employees on site”. The GIZ referred to the government’s response.
It is not known what the four GIZ employees were accused of. According to the report, at least three of them have since left the country. A Taliban spokesman told the newspaper that he could not comment on the matter “at this time”.
As WamS further learned, after the release of the four employees, the Taliban recently took action against another person working for GIZ, against whom – according to unconfirmed reports – a prison sentence was imposed. Neither the German government nor GIZ commented on this case either.
International GIZ staff no longer on site
Due to the precarious security situation, GIZ is withdrawing from Afghanistan next year. German or international employees have not been on site since August 2021. At that time, the radical Islamic Taliban had regained power in Afghanistan. According to Afghan local staff, GIZ currently still employs around 160 local employees.
The GIZ is following a decision by the German government to withdraw staff, the spokeswoman told RND. From 2025, the company will work with local partners from Germany or a third country. The focus will remain on supporting local people with basic services, including improving self-sufficiency, midwife training and supporting female entrepreneurs and women-led organizations. GIZ will continue not to work with the Taliban regime, which is not internationally recognized.