A Glimmer of Hope in Niger's Dark Landscape The release of US missionary Kevin Rideout from his nine month captivity in Niger is a welcome respite for a region plagued by terror and uncertainty.
However, this hard won victory is tempered by the broader context that led to Rideout's kidnapping.
For nearly two decades, Islamist militant groups have waged a campaign of violence against civilians and security forces in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria.