Libya helps secure release of US hostage

Libyan forces aligned with eastern commander Khalifa Haftar helped secure the release of an American missionary held by an Islamic State affiliate in the Sahel, highlighting Libya’s growing role in regional security efforts beyond its borders.

Five sources told Reuters on August 14 that authorities in eastern Libya helped arrange the release of Kevin Rideout, who was kidnapped in Niger in October while working for the evangelical organisation Serving in Mission. The sources said he was escorted to freedom through Libya.

Four sources said a deal had been brokered to secure Rideout’s release, with one saying a ransom was paid. However, a senior source in the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls eastern Libya, gave a different account, saying an elite LNA commando unit had carried out a military operation in Mali to free the hostage.

According to the LNA source, Rideout was subsequently flown to Benghazi. Reuters said it was unable to independently confirm the account of the raid.

Libya’s involvement in the operation had not previously been reported. The episode points to the expanding security role that Haftar has sought to establish across the wider Sahel, while giving his forces another opportunity to build relations with Washington.

The reported operation comes as Haftar’s forces have sought to expand their role as a regional security actor. A 2026 UN Panel of Experts report said the LNA had increasingly focused on counter-terrorism, border security and controlling cross-border movements, including through cooperation with neighbouring states.

In November 2025, the LNA and Chad’s army agreed to establish a joint force to secure their shared border, reflecting Haftar’s broader efforts to extend his security influence beyond eastern Libya.

Two sources said the recent effort to secure Rideout’s release was led by Cherif Ould Tahar, a Malian Arab businessman with links to regional armed groups and smuggling networks. It remained unclear what, if anything, was exchanged for Rideout’s freedom.

One source said the Libyan side had paid a ransom, but provided no further details. Malian government officials were not immediately available for comment.

Rideout was kidnapped in Niger’s Tillabéri region, an area at the centre of the Sahel’s jihadist insurgency. Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked groups have become increasingly entrenched across the border region connecting Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, with Islamic State maintaining a significant presence in western Niger and parts of northern Mali.

US officials had regarded recovering Ridedout as a major priority in the Sahel and had believed for months that he may have been transferred into Mali.

The US State Department declined to comment on Haftar’s involvement, while the White House has not responded to requests for comments. US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Washington looked forward to welcoming Rideout home.

The episode adds a new dimension to Libya’s already significant role in the region, with forces based in the country’s east now linked to efforts to resolve a hostage case originating in the Sahel.

Reuters, United Nations Security Council, Maghrebi.org