A U.S. missionary affiliated with an evangelical Christian organization has been kidnapped in Niger’s capital, Niamey, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department. This incident marks the latest in a series of abductions targeting foreign nationals in the country.
The U.S. State Department confirmed the abduction to AFP on Wednesday, stating that its embassy in Niamey is actively working to ensure the man’s safe return. The victim, a man in his 50s, was taken on Tuesday night and reportedly “already en route for the border with Mali,” according to a diplomatic source who spoke with AFP.
Reuters reported that the individual was a pilot for Serving in Mission (SIM), an evangelical organization. SIM describes itself as a “global mission family of more than 4,000 people, serving in more than 70 countries,” with a focus on spreading Christianity in regions where it is not widely practiced.
According to a diplomatic source, the man was abducted by three unidentified men in the Plateau neighborhood of Niamey while he was heading to the airport. The group then traveled to the western Tillaberi region, where armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda are known to operate.
Wamaps, a collective of journalists in West Africa, noted on X that the victim had been working in Niger since 2010 and was taken just a few streets away from the presidential palace in central Niamey. No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping or demanded a ransom.
This abduction comes amid a growing number of kidnappings in Niger, a country that has long struggled with armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL. Security conditions have worsened since the military overthrew the country’s democratically elected government in July 2023.
In April, a 67-year-old Swiss woman, Claudia Abbt, was kidnapped in Agadez, a northern city. Three months earlier, an Austrian woman, Eva Gretzmacher, 73, was also taken in the same city. Neither has been released.
Local criminal groups, acting on behalf of ISIL, are believed to be responsible for these kidnappings, according to AFP, citing regional observers. Wamaps reported that other foreign nationals have been targeted this year, including four Moroccan truck drivers in January, two Chinese petroleum workers in February, and five Indian power company technicians in April.
Niger is among several West African nations grappling with ongoing conflict that has spread from Mali and Burkina Faso over the past 12 years. The violence has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions.
Following the 2023 military coup, U.S. and French forces, which had previously supported regional efforts against armed violence, were expelled from Niger. The country subsequently turned to Russian mercenaries in an attempt to stabilize the situation.
In May, General Michael Langley, former head of the U.S. Africa Command, stated that the withdrawal of U.S. forces had reduced the ability to closely monitor terrorist groups but emphasized that the U.S. continues to provide support through partnerships.
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