TikTok Influencer in Mali Abducted and Executed After Praising Army

A Malian woman known for her TikTok videos supporting the army has been abducted and publicly executed by armed men, according to state media and local source

Mariam Cisse, who had nearly 100,000 followers, was seized on Thursday in the northern town of Tonka and later shot dead in a public square, state broadcaster ORTM reported

The area remains a battleground between Mali’s army and the al Qaeda-linked insurgent group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)

Two local sources confirmed the incident, saying Cisse was forcibly taken from a marketplace before being killed. One said the execution occurred on Friday, while others reported it happened on Saturday

Although no group has claimed responsibility, the attackers are believed to be jihadists aligned with local insurgent groups fighting the military

In one of her last TikTok posts, Cisse appeared in military fatigues with the caption “Vive Mali.” State TV described her as “a young woman who sought to uplift her community and support the Malian army’s mission to protect people and property”

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Mali’s military government continues to face mounting pressure from JNIM and other armed factions. A two-month fuel blockade by al Qaeda-linked militants has already crippled the capital, sparking fears that jihadists may seek to expand their control

Writer : Mweru Mbugua