Mali TikTok Star Executed By Suspected Jihadists Over Alleged Spying For Army
Mali TikTok Star Executed By Suspected Jihadists Over Alleged Spying For Army
A young Malian woman who gained popularity on TikTok for sharing videos about daily life in northern Mali was abducted and publicly executed by suspected jihadists, her family and local officials said on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Mariam Cisse, was well known online for her videos about the city of Tonka, in the northern Timbuktu region. She had amassed more than 90,000 followers on the social media platform before being accused by armed militants of collaborating with the Malian army.
According to her brother, Cisse was kidnapped on Thursday by the insurgents, who accused her of “informing the Malian army about their movements." “The next day, they took her on a motorbike to Tonka, where she was shot dead in Independence Square," he told AFP. “I was in the crowd."
A local security source confirmed the killing, saying, “Mariam Cisse was executed publicly by jihadists who accused her of filming them and sharing information with the army." The source described the incident as a “barbaric act."
A local official in Tonka also confirmed the execution, calling it an “ignoble and shocking act", and urged the authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Cisse's killing has sparked outrage across Mali, where citizens are increasingly caught between jihadist violence and state crackdowns. The country's military junta, which seized power in 2021, has struggled to contain a jihadist insurgency that has plagued northern and central Mali since 2012.
The attack highlights the growing influence of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the Al-Qaeda-affiliated coalition active across the Sahel. In recent weeks, JNIM fighters have reportedly imposed a fuel blockade in northern Mali, crippling daily life by shutting down schools and halting agricultural activity.
Analysts say the execution demonstrates how jihadist groups are using public displays of violence to enforce their control and spread fear in areas where the state's presence has weakened.
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As news of Cisse's death spread, social media users and activists expressed grief and anger, calling her murder a reminder of the growing dangers faced by civilians — especially women — in conflict-ridden regions of Mali.
-with inputs from AFP
Source: News18
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