<p>An 88-year-old Australian surgeon, Kenneth Elliott, has been freed from seven years' captivity in West Africa, the Australian government said Friday.</p>.<p>Elliott and his wife were abducted by Al Qaeda-linked jihadists in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/burkina-faso" target="_blank">Burkina Faso</a> in January 2016.</p>.<p>His wife Jocelyn was released three weeks later.</p>.<p>"Unfortunately, Dr Elliott was held for a further seven years," Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters.</p>.<p>The doctor returned to Australia on Thursday night, she said.</p>.<p>"Dr Elliott is safe and well and has been reunited with his wife Jocelyn and their children," Wong said.</p>.<p>"I am so pleased that his release has been secured and he is safely again with his family."</p>.<p>Elliott's family said they were relieved at his release and prayed for others still being held.</p>.<p>"We wish to express our thanks to God and all who have continued to pray for us," the family said in a statement.</p>.<p>"At 88 years of age, and after many years away from home, Dr Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and rebuild strength. We thank you for your understanding and sympathy."</p>.<p>Before their capture, the couple from Perth in Western Australia had run the sole medical clinic in Djibo, a town near the border with Mali, since 1972.</p>.<p>They had also carried out humanitarian work in Mali and Niger.</p>.<p>The pair were abducted close to the Niger border on the night of January 15-16, 2016.</p>.<p>Malian militant group Ansar Dine said at the time that the couple had been taken by jihadists from the "Emirate of the Sahara" -- suspected by experts to be a branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).</p>.<p>Elliott's wife was freed after mediation from Niger.</p>
<p>An 88-year-old Australian surgeon, Kenneth Elliott, has been freed from seven years' captivity in West Africa, the Australian government said Friday.</p>.<p>Elliott and his wife were abducted by Al Qaeda-linked jihadists in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/burkina-faso" target="_blank">Burkina Faso</a> in January 2016.</p>.<p>His wife Jocelyn was released three weeks later.</p>.<p>"Unfortunately, Dr Elliott was held for a further seven years," Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters.</p>.<p>The doctor returned to Australia on Thursday night, she said.</p>.<p>"Dr Elliott is safe and well and has been reunited with his wife Jocelyn and their children," Wong said.</p>.<p>"I am so pleased that his release has been secured and he is safely again with his family."</p>.<p>Elliott's family said they were relieved at his release and prayed for others still being held.</p>.<p>"We wish to express our thanks to God and all who have continued to pray for us," the family said in a statement.</p>.<p>"At 88 years of age, and after many years away from home, Dr Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and rebuild strength. We thank you for your understanding and sympathy."</p>.<p>Before their capture, the couple from Perth in Western Australia had run the sole medical clinic in Djibo, a town near the border with Mali, since 1972.</p>.<p>They had also carried out humanitarian work in Mali and Niger.</p>.<p>The pair were abducted close to the Niger border on the night of January 15-16, 2016.</p>.<p>Malian militant group Ansar Dine said at the time that the couple had been taken by jihadists from the "Emirate of the Sahara" -- suspected by experts to be a branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).</p>.<p>Elliott's wife was freed after mediation from Niger.</p>