Australian couple kidnapped by jihadists in Burkina Faso: Islamist group

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AFP

Ouagadougou (AFP) - Two Australians have been kidnapped in Burkina Faso, officials said Saturday, as a Malian Islamist group said the couple were in the hands of Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists.

The Burkina government said the pair were kidnapped in Baraboule, near the west African country's borders with Niger and Mali.

News of the kidnapping came as a jihadist assault on an upmarket hotel in Ouagadougou left at least 26 people dead, including many foreigners, in the latest violence to hit the impoverished west African state.

Burkina Faso's Communications Minister Remi Dandjinou said Saturday the couple were Australian nationals, correcting an earlier interior ministry statement identifying them as Austrian.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/austrian-couple-abducted-northern-burkina-faso-131927455.html;_ylt=AwrBT8OXeppW_vcA6u1XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. The couple were running a 120-bed clinic in the town of Dijbo, where Dr Elliot is the only surgeon

Ken and Jocelyn Elliott, who are in their 80s, have built up medical facilities since the 1970s in the town of Djibo near the Mali border.

Locals have started a Facebook page posting messages of support.
...
"Elliott is a Burkinabe and a humane person," said Francois Ramde. "He represents the best of humanity."

"Let the name of God not be used in connection with this ignoble act because it was God who sent Elliott to us and will bring him back," said Roots Hassane.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35337030

http://www.smh.com.au/world/ken-elliott-and-wife-jocelyn-built-a-surgery-for-two-million-people-from-the-ground-up-in-burkina-faso-20160117-gm7qj7.html