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An American missionary has been kidnapped from his home in Niamey, the capital of Niger, according to multiple security sources cited by BBC’s US partner, CBS News.
The man, whose identity has not been officially disclosed, was abducted on Tuesday, only about 100 yards (91 metres) from the presidential palace, where ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has been detained since his removal in a 2023 military coup.
Sources told US media outlets that the victim had been serving as a missionary for a US-based charity and had lived in Niger since 2010. Authorities have yet to determine who was responsible for the kidnapping.
The US State Department confirmed awareness of the incident, stating it is closely coordinating with local officials.
“We are seeing efforts from across the US government to support the recovery and safe return of this US citizen,” a State Department spokesperson said.
According to security sources quoted by CBS, the abduction was carried out by three unidentified gunmen. So far, the kidnappers have made no known demands.
Investigators later tracked the missionary’s phone to an area approximately 56 miles north of Niamey, described by Nigerien security sources as “a sanctuary for groups affiliated with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.”
The kidnapping took place against the backdrop of ongoing instability following the July 2023 coup, when General Abdourahamane Tiani and his military junta seized power, deposing Niger’s democratically elected leader, Mohamed Bazoum.
Bazoum, who was overthrown by members of the presidential guard, has reportedly remained confined inside the palace since his ouster, “living in two rooms with no windows,” sources told CBS.
Niger, the largest country in West Africa, lies in the heart of the Sahel region, a vast belt of land stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, long plagued by jihadist violence and military takeovers.
Before the 2023 coup, Niger was viewed as one of the few examples of relative democratic stability in the region, standing in contrast to neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso.
The US State Department has previously described Niger as “important as a linchpin for stability in the Sahel” and “a reliable counter-terrorism partner” in the fight against extremist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
