Hostage Release in Niger: U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the release of American missionary pilot Kevin Rideout, kidnapped outside his Niamey home in October 2025, saying he is now back in U.S. custody and in good health; SIM International also said he will soon reunite with his family. Sahel Security & Ransom Claims: A UN report says a $50m ransom paid for a hostage in Mali helped fund al Qaeda-linked advances across West Africa, with regional sources pointing to the UAE as the payer. Libya’s Haftar Role: Reuters reports the eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar helped broker Rideout’s handover to eastern Libyan authorities, with sources adding that a ransom may have been paid. Niger Army Operations: Nigerian troops in Niger State said they rescued nine kidnapped victims in Mariga and cleared a terrorist ambush in Rijau, while also arresting suspects and recovering weapons and livestock. ECOWAS Border Push: ECOWAS engaged border communities at the Akanu-Noepe post to sensitise people on the Free Movement protocol along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor. Local Policing: Niger State police arrested 139 suspects in Suleja after violent rallies and criminal activity, with 64 arraigned.