Trump Announces Release of American Missionary Held in Niger for 10 Months

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Kevin Readout, an American missionary abducted in Niger last October, has been freed and is preparing to return to the United States by air.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated: “I am pleased to announce that former hostage Kevin Readout is preparing to fly home to the United States after being reunited with his beautiful wife, Krista.” He added that he looks forward to hosting the couple at the White House soon.

Background of the abduction

Readout was employed by the Christian evangelical missionary organization SIM International. According to the group, he was kidnapped from outside his home in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in October last year.

SIM International confirmed that, at the time of the announcement of his release on Friday, Readout “was in good health and under the care of U.S. officials.”

Security context in Niger

Niger has been governed by a military council for three years and faces ongoing violence perpetrated by extremists. The country experienced a wave of abductions targeting Westerners last year.

The release comes 10 months after Readout’s abduction. It remains unclear which organization held him or where he was detained.

Prior U.S. missionary abductions in Niger

The New York Times, which first reported Readout’s release, noted that the 50-year-old American had carried out missionary work in Niger for 19 years and served as a pilot for SIM International.

Following his abduction, the U.S. Department of State issued its highest-level travel advisory for Niger, urging Americans to avoid all travel to the country “for any reason.”

In October 2020, American missionary Philip Walton was kidnapped in the village of Massalata, located 400 kilometers from Niamey near the Nigerian border. He was released the same month after a U.S. special forces operation in northern Nigeria.

Also in October 2016, American aid worker Jeffrey Woodke was abducted by extremists in southwestern Niger and was released in 2023.