Libyan commander Haftar helped secure release of US hostage in Sahel
Reuters reported last year that Rideout was seized by three unidentified men on his way to the airport in Niamey and taken to the western Tillaberi region of Niger.
Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar played a crucial role in securing the release of American hostage Kevin Rideout in West Africa's Sahel region, according to four sources speaking to Reuters. Rideout, a pilot working for a Christian missionary organization in Niger, was abducted in October and handed over to eastern Libyan authorities late Thursday.
Haftar's involvement marks his growing influence as a security broker in the Sahel region, and his relationship with the Trump administration is strengthened by this operation. The missionary's family was relieved upon learning of his release, but it remains unclear what concessions, if any, were made in exchange for Rideout's freedom. One source suggested that the Libyan side may have paid a ransom, though specific details were not disclosed.
The State Department refrained from commenting on the matter, while the White House did not respond to inquiries regarding Haftar's participation. President Trump expressed his hope for Rideout's return to the US in a social media post.
Rideout was initially believed to have been moved to Mali territory before his capture in Niger's Tillaberi region. The US has prioritized his recovery as one of its key objectives in the Sahel. Earlier this year, the administration lifted sanctions on Malian officials to facilitate overflight access for operations aimed at finding Rideout.
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