U.S. missionary is reported abducted

An American evangelical missionary working on a U.S. government-backed development project in northern Chad has been kidnapped by rebels, Chadian and U.S. officials said.

The kidnapped American is Steve Godbold, said Pastor Ngardei Bako, a leader of Chad’s Evangelical Church. He said Godbold had worked in Chad, especially the Tibesti region, for many years.

Negotiations were underway with rebels of the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad to secure the missionary’s release. A source close to the rebel group said Godbold was suspected of working for Chadian intelligence and would be released if the group was convinced that that was not the case.