A U.S. missionary kidnapped in Niger last October has been released, according to NPR. The Christian organization he works for announced the news Friday.
Kevin Rideout "is in good health in the care of US officials," SIM International said in a statement. The organization added that he would soon be reunited with his family.
No details were given about how or where Rideout was released. The U.S. State Department had not yet confirmed the release at the time of the announcement.
Rideout was kidnapped on October 21, 2025, in Niamey, the capital of Niger. No group claimed responsibility for the abduction. A number of jihadist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization operate in the West African country.
Niger has grown increasingly hostile to Western interests since a 2023 military coup overthrew its democratically elected government. In 2024, at the request of the junta, the United States completed a withdrawal of hundreds of troops from an airbase in the country that had been used to support counterterrorism operations.
Relations appeared to shift somewhat this year. The U.S. government announced it had donated $2.3 million in military equipment to Niger after both sides reaffirmed a commitment to security cooperation. A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Niger in May said the assistance reflects a shared interest in countering terrorism, combating kidnapping for ransom, disrupting criminal networks, and strengthening regional security.
