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Burkina Faso

• Thousands Call for Release of Kidnapped Doctor
  
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  On January 15th, thousands took to the streets of Djibo, a town located in the province of Soum, to call for the government to secure the release of an elderly Australian doctor, Ken Elliott, who was kidnapped two years ago. The abduction was claimed by the 'Emirate of the Sahara,' a branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb region of North Africa.

  Dr. Elliott and his wife Jocelyn had run a 120-bed clinic in Djibo for 40 years until their abduction. Although Jocelyn was released in February of 2016, she did not want to leave Burkina Faso. (An audio recording presented by members of the militant group explained that Jocelyn was released because they did not want women involved in the war.)

• Mission Workers Fatally Wounded by Terrorists

  
    The victims were aiding in the construction of a school.

  On January 15th, attackers linked with Al-Qaeda murdered 29 people from 18 countries before being stopped by Burkina Faso and French security forces. Six of the victims were Canadian citizens on a humanitarian trip prompted by their Christian faith, four of whom are from the same family. A seventh Christian victim was a U.S. missionary.