American missionary Kevin Rideout released after nine months captivity in Niger

American missionary pilot Kevin Rideout has been released to United States custody after more than nine months in captivity. Rideout was abducted in Niamey, Niger, on October 21, 2025, by three armed men. While no group claimed responsibility, officials believe he was held by al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin. The release comes amid heightened regional instability following Niger's 2023 military coup, which led to the withdrawal of U.S. troops and a pivot toward Russia.

Kevin Rideout release

• ▪American missionary pilot Kevin Rideout was released in August 2026 after spending more than nine months in captivity following his abduction in Niger.
• ▪The Christian organization SIM International confirmed on August 14, 2026, that Kevin Rideout was in good health and in the custody of United States officials.

October 2025 Niamey kidnapping

• ▪No armed group claimed immediate responsibility for the October 2025 abduction of Kevin Rideout in Niamey.
• ▪Three armed individuals abducted Kevin Rideout from outside his home, which was located approximately 100 yards from the presidential palace in Niamey.
• ▪Kevin Rideout, a 50-year-old pilot who had worked in Niger for 19 years, was kidnapped on October 21, 2025, in the capital city of Niamey.

Niger jihadist militant activity

• ▪United States intelligence in March 2026 suggested Kevin Rideout was being held in neighboring Mali by the al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin.
• ▪Following his abduction, Kevin Rideout was believed to have been taken toward the western Tillaberi region of Niger, where militants linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State are active.
• ▪In June 2026, gunmen attacked the main airport in Niamey, killing more than 30 people in an assault targeting the strategic command hub of the ruling military.

Niger military junta

• ▪Niger has been governed by a military junta since the July 2023 coup that deposed the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
• ▪The ruling military junta of Niger has severed ties with Western partners and established a new security and diplomatic alliance with Russia.

Western military withdrawal

• ▪At the request of the ruling military junta, the United States completed the withdrawal of its military forces from Niger in 2024.
• ▪In May 2026, the United States government donated $2.3 million in military equipment to Niger to support counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping operations.

US official response

• ▪United States President Donald Trump confirmed Kevin Rideout's release and return to American custody in a social media post on August 14, 2026.
• ▪The United States Embassy in Niamey issued a security alert warning American citizens of a heightened risk of kidnapping throughout Niger one day after Kevin Rideout was abducted.

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