A young TikTok influencer from Mali has been executed by suspected jihadists after being accused of collaborating with the country’s army.
Mariam Cisse, a popular social media figure with around 90,000 followers, was shot dead in public by alleged members of the Al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) on November 7.
Her death has sent shockwaves through Mali, a West African nation long plagued by Islamist insurgency and political instability following a 2012 rebellion that has since evolved into a deadly regional conflict.
Cisse, believed to be in her 20s, became known for posting light-hearted TikTok videos featuring daily life in Tonka, a town in Mali’s northern Timbuktu region. But she also openly expressed support for Mali’s armed forces, who are battling jihadist groups across the country.
According to local reports, Cisse often appeared in army-style uniforms in her videos and was outspoken about backing the military’s counterterrorism operations.
Witnesses said armed men seized her while she was livestreaming at a local fair last Thursday. The attackers reportedly took her out of the area before transporting her by motorbike to Tonka’s Independence Square.
She was later executed by gunfire in front of bystanders, in what locals described as a deliberate attempt to instil fear among those who show sympathy for the army.
Her brother told AFP that the family last saw her on November 6, when she was “arrested by the jihadists.” He said the militants accused her of “informing the Malian army about their movements.”
A local security source confirmed that “Mariam Cisse was assassinated in a public square in Tonka by jihadists who accused her of filming them for the army,” describing the killing as a “barbaric” act.
A community leader condemned the murder, calling it an “ignoble act” meant to silence civilian voices that publicly support the Malian military.
Mali, one of several Sahel nations struggling against Islamist militancy, has witnessed a surge in violence since the junta took power in a 2021 coup. The military government has since expelled UN peacekeepers and deepened ties with Russia’s Wagner Group in its fight against jihadist groups.
Neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso and Niger face similar challenges, while Sudan remains trapped in civil conflict and Nigeria continues to battle jihadist insurgents in its volatile northeast.
Cisse’s killing underscores the growing danger for civilians, influencers, and journalists who attempt to express solidarity with Mali’s army or comment on the ongoing conflict.
Rights groups have condemned the public execution, warning that such acts highlight the continuing erosion of civil freedoms in Mali and the deteriorating security situation across the Sahel.
Editing by M10News Africa Desk | Contact: africa@m10news.com
© 2025 M10News. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.
