American Missionary Freed After Nine Months Captive in Niger

Kevin Rideout, a 50-year-old US missionary pilot with SIM International, was released after nine months held by JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate, in Niger's Tillaberi region. He is now in FBI custody. His seizure in Niamey last October tested US hostage-recovery efforts after Niger's 2023 coup expelled French forces and reduced the American military presence at Agadez.