American nun has been found alive five months after being kidnapped in Africa

An American nun who was kidnapped by armed gunmen in Burkina Faso earlier this year has been found alive after nearly five months in captivity. 

Sister Suellan Tennyson, 83, was kidnapped from the convent of her educational and medical mission in Yalgo, Burkina Faso, on 4 April. 

A statement from the FBI at the time of her disappearance said: "Suellen Theresa Tennyson, an American citizen and Nun living and working in Burkina Faso, was kidnapped by armed gunmen in Yalgo, Burkina Faso, on April 4, 2022." 

It added: "Tennyson may potentially be located in Burkina Faso, Mali, or Niger. She is reportedly near-blind in her left eye due to cataracts and she may wear glasses." 

FBI

The Marianites of Holy Cross said in an e-newsletter that about 10 armed men had been involved in the abduction. 

Sister Ann Lacour, congregational leader of the Marianites, said in the e-bulletin: “There were about 10 men who came during the night while the sisters were sleeping. They destroyed almost everything in the house, shot holes in the new truck and tried to burn it. The house itself is OK, but its contents are ruined.” 

Sister Suellan has now been found and is now ‘on American soil’, but is not yet in her home country, with Sister Ann telling the Clarion Herald that she was ‘safe’, but had no idea where she was. 

New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond explained how he had received a text from Sister Ann earlier in the day, and was happy to hear she had been freed – especially as Sister Suellan had been abducted barefoot in the middle of the night, leaving behind her blood pressure medication and glasses. 

Sister Ann said: “She is safe. She is on American soil, but not in America. She is safe. She was recovered (Monday) morning. We have spoken to her. She eventually will get back to the United States.” 

The nun said that, when she spoke with Sister Suellen, she did not actually ‘know where she was’. 

She continued: “She’s totally worn out. I told her how much people love her, and she doesn’t have anything to worry about. I told her, ‘You are alive and safe. That’s all that matters.’” 

Canadian nun Sister Pauline Drouin and Sister Pascaline Tougma, a Burkinabé, were the other two Marianites at the convent in Yalgo at the time of the kidnapping, but were not abducted and did not see in detail what happened. 

They were relocated to Kaya, Burkina Faso, which is about 70 miles from Yalgo. 

“They say the two young women who live with them saw what happened and told them (the details),” Sister Ann said. 

“They think there were more men on the road. They have heard nothing from or about Suellen since she was taken.” 

Ruby Faucheux Keefe, a childhood friend of Sister Suellen’s from America, said she was ‘thrilled’ that the missionary was safe in US custody. 

“I’ve been thinking about her every day,” she said. 

“This has made my day. We grew up together.” 

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