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U.S. missionary who was kidnapped in Niger is released
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Kevin Rideout, a U.S. missionary kidnapped in Niger in October 2025, has been released and is in good health under U.S. officials' care, according to SIM International.
- Rideout was abducted on October 21 in Niamey, Niger's capital, a country troubled by insecurity and ruled by a military junta since a 2023 coup.
- No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, but several jihadist organizations linked to al-Qaida and ISIS operate in Niger.
- The U.S. withdrew troops from Niger in 2024 at the junta's request but recently donated $2.3 million in military equipment to support counterterrorism and regional security efforts.
- The U.S. Embassy emphasized the aid reflects a mutual commitment to combating terrorism, kidnapping, and criminal networks, aligning with U.S. national security interests in the Sahel region.
