American Nun Kidnapped in Burkina Faso

A local parish in the Yalgo region in northern Burkina Faso is missing one of its devotees following a night-time assault.

Sister Suellen Tennyon, an 83-year-old nun who has served the community’s Catholic congregation Marianites of Holy Cross in Kaya since 2014, was kidnapped by armed men on Monday evening, 4 April.

Kaya Bishop Theophile Nare announced the news in a statement: “Sister Suellen Tennyson was taken to an unknown destination by her kidnappers who, before leaving, vandalised rooms (and) sabotaged the community vehicle which they tried to take.”

While it is not immediately clear who the kidnappers were, it is generally assumed that the militia groups in the region – with connections to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State – are behind the incident.

The US Embassy located in the capital of Ouagadougou in the country has declined to comment on Tennyson’s disappearance, but has acknowledged reports of a US citizen missing.

They said: “[We are] working diligently with local authorities to verify these reports and are monitoring the situation. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.”

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