An Australian woman hostage was freed by an Al-Qaida affiliated group on Burkina Faso. She, together with her husband was held captive by the group for several weeks. However, her husband remains as a hostage with the group.
According to the Guardian, Jocelyn Elliott, was released over the weekend and was presented by Mahamadou Issoufou, the neighboring Niger president during a news conference in Dosso, south-west Niger, Saturday. Malcom Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister appreciated Niger's government officials as well Burkina Faso on their efforts secure the Elliott's safe released.
Turnball also said, Elliott already had a short talked with the foreign minister, Julie Bishop after she was freed on Saturday. Yahoo News reported, Elliott was released because the terror affiliate group said, they "do not want to make women involved in the war." Bishop said, "She was relieved and she was very tired. Our overriding concern now is for her husband, Dr. Kenneth Elliott."Both captives are on their 80s.
The released Australian hostage is also expected to meet with the president of Burkina Faso shortly after she arrived on Monday at Ouagadougou, ABC News reported. Elliott's family released their official statement regarding the freed family member. "We are trusting that the moral and guiding principles of those who have released our mother will also be applied to our elderly father who has served the community of Djibo and the Sahel for more than half his lifetime."
The said militant group behind the kidnapping has released a statement in Al-Qaida's Telegram Channel. The group said they would freed Jocelyn Elliott, expecting nothing in return. "The primary motive behind their kidnapping was an attempt to gain release of our captives who sit behind bars and suffer the pain of imprisonment, as well as being deprived of their basic rights."Elliott's children are also hoping the said militant group will also released their father.
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, rose to prominence in large part of the area through abducting and asking for ransom operations with their targets are foreign aid workers and tourists.
