Armed militants in Mali have kidnapped and publicly executed a popular TikTok creator known for expressing support towards the nation's military forces, according to local officials.
The Abduction and Public Execution
Mariame Cissé was forcibly taken on Friday while visiting a weekly market in Echel, confirmed Yehia Tandina, mayor of the neighbouring Timbuktu region. In a disturbing turn of events, the same group of armed men returned with her the following evening at dusk.
The militants brought Cissé to Independence Square in Tonka, where they executed her in full view of gathered spectators. The mayor of Tonka verified the killing had occurred but stated he lacked additional information about the circumstances.
Background and Previous Threats
The village where the execution took place lies along the Niger River, approximately in Mali's central region. This area is known to harbour operations by Jama'at Nusrat ul Islam wa al Muslimin (JNIM), an organisation affiliated with al Qaeda.
Although no group has formally claimed responsibility for the murder, Cissé's social media activity likely attracted unwanted attention. With over 140,000 followers on TikTok, she occasionally shared images of herself wearing military attire despite not being a member of the armed forces.
According to the Timbuktu mayor, Cissé had received multiple death threats in the days preceding her abduction. Her final TikTok video, uploaded shortly before her murder, showed the influencer happily dancing and laughing to music.
Mali's Ongoing Security Crisis
The video has since accumulated hundreds of comments mourning her tragic death, while her follower count continues to grow as news of her murder spreads internationally.
Mali has been struggling against armed groups since 2012, with the conflict intensifying significantly over the past decade. The military initially seized control in 2020, justifying their actions by citing the need to address the country's security problems.
Another military officer subsequently took power through a coup the following year. Monitoring groups report that security conditions have deteriorated further since that time.
Armed factions, predominantly JNIM, now operate extensively throughout rural regions. The landlocked country is currently experiencing a two-month fuel blockade imposed by al Qaeda-linked organisations, exacerbating the humanitarian situation.
