AN 88-year-old Australian doctor held hostage in West Africa for more than seven years by Al-Qaeda militants has been released and reunited with his family.
Dr. Elliott and his wife Jocelyn were kidnapped in 2016 by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb – an African affiliate of the Jihadist group.
For more than 40 years, the couple managed a 120-bed clinic in Burkina Faso where the Australian doctor was the only surgeon.
The group released his wife after three weeks following public pressure and after following their leader’s advice not to involve women in war.
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong announced that Dr. Elliott is safe and well and has been reunited with his wife Jocelyn and their children.
She also thanked Australian officials who secured his release.
Founded by Osama bin Laden in 1988, Al-Qaeda came into being after Soviet forces were defeated and withdrew from Afghanistan.
The group operates across the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert as well as in Mali and Burkina Faso and is known to have used kidnapping for ransom as a way of raising money along with other extremist groups.
The Elliott family expressed their relief and thanked the government and all who have helped in securing the release of their loved one.
