American missionary Kevin Rideout, who was kidnapped in Niger last year, has been released and is now in the custody of United States officials, President Donald Trump has confirmed.
Rideout, who worked with Christian missionary organisation SIM International, was abducted in October 2025 outside his residence in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
Trump announced the development on Friday in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing Rideout as a “wonderful Christian Missionary” and saying he had been kidnapped by jihadist terrorists operating in West Africa.
“Kevin was kidnapped by Jihadi terrorists in West Africa,” Trump said, without providing further details about the circumstances of his release or whether any ransom was paid.
SIM International had earlier confirmed Rideout’s release, saying he was in good health and receiving care from US officials. The organisation said he would soon be reunited with his family.
Rideout, 50, had reportedly spent about 19 years working as a missionary in Niger and also served as a pilot for SIM International.
His kidnapping had drawn significant attention from US authorities, particularly amid growing insecurity and jihadist activity across the Sahel region.
Reports indicated that Rideout was abducted only a few streets from Niger’s presidential palace in central Niamey, an area where several international organisations are located.
The circumstances surrounding his captivity remain unclear. At one point, he was believed to have been held in neighbouring Mali by an Islamic State-affiliated group operating in the Sahel.
However, reports later suggested that Rideout may have been moved during his captivity, making it difficult to determine which group was holding him when he was eventually released.
The United States government had made Rideout’s safe return a priority as part of its renewed engagement with countries in the African Sahel, where years of international counterterrorism efforts have struggled to contain militant violence.
Niger has experienced a significant increase in jihadist attacks and kidnappings in recent years. The country has also been under military rule since a coup three years ago, following the overthrow of its democratically elected government.
Following Rideout’s abduction, the US State Department maintained its highest-level travel warning for Niger, advising American citizens not to travel to the country because of terrorism, kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and health risks.
Rideout is not the first American missionary or humanitarian worker to be kidnapped in Niger.
In October 2020, American missionary Philip Walton was abducted from Massalata, a village near Niger’s border with Nigeria. He was rescued later that month during an operation involving US special forces in northern Nigeria.
Another American humanitarian worker, Jeffery Woodke, was kidnapped by jihadists in southwestern Niger in October 2016. He remained in captivity for several years before being released in 2023.
Nigerien authorities had not immediately issued an official statement on Rideout’s release.
In his message announcing the development, Trump welcomed Rideout’s return and thanked those involved in securing his freedom.
“Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped!” Trump said.
