Kenneth Elliot, an Australian doctor kidnapped in Burkina Faso and held captive by al-Qaeda for more than seven years, has finally returned home to his family.
 |
| Dr. Elliot and Jocelyn | Photo: International Christian Concern |
Elliott and his wife, Jocelyn Elliott who had been running a 120-bed medical clinic for in Djibo, Burkina Faso for more than 40 years, were kidnapped in January 2016 from their home in Burkina Faso by the Mali-based terror organization al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Consequently, the hospital was closed due to Elliot’s absence after the kidnappings. According to International Christian Concern, he was the only surgeon in the area and made his services free to the population of roughly 2 million. He was given the nicknames the “Doctor of the Poor” and “Savior of the Sahel” for the work he was doing.
abc news reports that, on the day the Australian couple were kidnapped — Jan. 15, 2016 — 30 people were killed in an extremist attack in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou. Al-Qaida’s North Africa wing claimed responsibility for that attack and other high-profile strikes in West Africa months earlier, including killing 20 people in an attack on a hotel in Mali’s capital Bamako.
However, after three weeks, Jocelyn was allowed to go. According to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the woman was released due to pressure from the public and directives from commanders not to employ women in combat.
Jocelyn Elliott was freed in neighboring Niger. Niger's then-President Mahamadou Issoufou had worked with Burkina Faso intelligence services to secure her release, his office said at the time.
Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong while addressing the associated press in Sydney, revealed that Kenneth Elliott was safe and well and was reunited with his wife and their children on Thursday night,”.
Wong said no ransom was paid to secure Elliott's freedom. According to Wong, the Australian government had been working for the past seven years with local authorities and other government in relation to Dr. Elliot. However, no other details on his release were disclosed. Media reported he was reunited with his family in Perth, the west coast city where he is from.
At 88 years of age, and after many years away from home, Dr. Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and rebuild strength,” the family added.
