Australian doctor freed 7 years after abduction in West Africa

World
By William

Dr. Kenneth Elliott was captured in northern Burkina Faso in 2016 along with his wife, who was released shortly after their abduction.

An 88-year-old Australian doctor who was detained in West Africa for more than seven years has been released and returned safely to his family, the Australian government has announced.

Kenneth Elliott, from the west coast city of Perth, is safe and well and has been reunited with his wife Jocelyn and their children, Australian Foreign Secretary Penny Wong said in a statement on Friday.

“We express our gratitude to Australian officials who worked over many years to secure Dr Elliott’s release and support his family,” Wong said.

Elliott and his wife were kidnapped by rebel fighters in January 2016 in northern Burkina Faso near the border with Mali and Niger, where they had run a 120-bed medical clinic for more than 40 years.

Jocelyn Elliott was released after three weeks.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said it kidnapped the couple and unconditionally released the woman due to public pressure and guidance from leaders not to involve women in wars.

Australian Jocelyn Elliott, center, at the airport in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in February 2016 after being released by her captors [File: Theo Renaut/AP]

Wong said the Elliott family had asked for privacy, “and we ask that the media respect their wishes at this time”.

The doctor’s family released a statement through the State Department thanking everyone who “continued to pray for us”.

“We express our relief that Dr Elliott is free and thank the Australian Government and everyone involved over time in securing his release,” the family said.

“At the age of 88, and after many years away from home, Dr. Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and regain his strength. We thank you for your understanding and compassion.”

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