An American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger’s capital last year has been released after spending about nine months in captivity, his organisation has announced.
Kevin Rideout, who works with missionary organisation SIM International, was abducted by three armed men in Niamey on October 21, 2025.
SIM said Rideout is in good health and currently in the care of US officials. He is expected to be reunited with his family.
No group publicly claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, although Niger has faced attacks and kidnappings linked to armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Rideout’s abduction prompted a security warning from the US Embassy in Niamey, which said American citizens faced a heightened risk of kidnapping across Niger, including in the capital.
The release comes as Niger continues to face serious security challenges following the military coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power in 2023. The junta subsequently reduced its military cooperation with Western countries, including the United States, and strengthened ties with Russia.
Niger remains part of a wider security crisis across the Sahel, where jihadist groups have expanded their operations and increasingly targeted urban areas.
