A United States missionary working for the evangelical organisation Serving in Mission (SIM) has been abducted in Niamey, Niger’s capital, the US State Department confirmed on Wednesday. The incident marks the latest in a string of kidnappings targeting foreign nationals in the Sahel region.
According to diplomatic sources, the man, aged in his 50s, was seized by three unidentified assailants near Niamey’s Plateau district, close to the presidential palace, as he was heading to the airport. He was reportedly being taken toward the border with Mali, an area known for the presence of armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda.
The kidnapped missionary has reportedly been working in Niger since 2010. No group has yet claimed responsibility or demanded ransom. The US Embassy in Niamey stated that it is coordinating with local authorities to ensure the man’s safe release.
Niger, like neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, has faced growing insecurity in recent years, with armed attacks, abductions, and violent incursions spreading across its western regions. The situation has worsened since the July 2023 military coup, which led to the expulsion of US and French troops and a growing security partnership with Russian mercenaries.
Observers note that this latest abduction underscores the growing instability in the Sahel, where foreign aid workers and missionaries have increasingly become targets.