In a harrowing incident in northern Mali, a young woman, Mariam Cisse, was kidnapped and subsequently executed by suspected jihadists, according to her family and local officials. Cisse, known for her TikTok videos showcasing the city of Tonka in the northern Timbuktu region, had amassed a following of 90,000 viewers. However, her online presence made her a target, as her abductors accused her of collaborating with the Malian army.
The distressing details surrounding her death began to unfold when her brother recounted her abduction, stating she was taken on Thursday and accused of providing information about jihadist movements to the military. The following day, she was transported back to Tonka on a motorbike, where her execution transpired in public view at Independence Square. Witnesses reported that her brother was present in the crowd when the tragic event occurred.
A security source who spoke to AFP described Cisse’s killing as a “barbaric” act, confirming that jihadists executed her publicly for allegedly filming their activities for the Malian army. This public execution has sent shockwaves through the country, which is under the rule of a military junta grappling with a complex and ongoing jihadist insurgency that has plagued Mali since 2012.
Local officials voiced their condemnation, with one referring to the execution as an “ignoble act.” The military junta’s struggle to quell the escalating violence has become more pronounced in recent weeks, exacerbated by fighters from the JNIM, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group. They have imposed a fuel blockade leading to the closure of schools and hindering agricultural harvesting across various regions.
The incident illustrates the dangerous climate facing civilians amid ongoing political instability and rampant extremist violence, further complicating the junta’s efforts to restore security and order in the country.
