US missionary abducted in Niger capital: Diplomatic sources

A US missionary moving for evangelical Christian organisation SIM has been abducted successful Niger’s superior Niamey, sources adjacent to the lawsuit and diplomatic sources said Wednesday.

It marks the latest successful a spate of kidnappings of westerners this twelvemonth successful bluish Niger, a state plagued by jihadist unit and governed by a subject junta for implicit 2 years.

The unnamed victim, a antheral successful his 50s, is “already en way for the borderline with Mali,” a diplomatic root said aft his seizure Tuesday.

SIM operates successful respective areas of Niger and crossed westbound Africa wherever it evangelises, assists section churches and hospitals oregon provides entree to drinking water.

In April, a 67-year-old Swiss pistillate identified arsenic “Claudia” was kidnapped successful the bluish metropolis of Agadez, 3 months aft the abduction of Austrian Eva Gretzmacher, 73, successful the aforesaid city.

The Islamic State radical successful the Sahel was considered liable for the 2 kidnappings, carried retired by section transgression groups connected its behalf, according to respective observers of jihadist movements successful the region.

In October 2020, American missionary Philip Walton was kidnapped successful Massalata, a colony located 400 kilometres (249 miles) from Niamey, adjacent the Nigerian border.

He was freed the aforesaid period pursuing involution by US peculiar forces successful bluish Nigeria.

American humanitarian idiosyncratic Jeffery Woodke was kidnapped successful October 2016 by jihadists, lone to beryllium freed successful 2023.

Since 2023 Niger has been governed by a subject junta that took powerfulness successful a coup and ousted US and French forces that were assisting successful the combat against jihadist unit which has destabilised the country.

“With our withdrawal from the region, we person mislaid our quality to show these violent groups intimately but proceed to liaison with partners to supply what enactment we can,” erstwhile caput of the US Africa Command, General Michael Langley, said astatine the extremity of May.

The station US missionary abducted successful Niger capital: Diplomatic sources appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.