A young social-media influencer in Mali has been abducted and executed by armed men, highlighting the deepening reach of jihadist groups in the country. The victim, identified as 20-something TikTok creator Mariame Cissé, was taken while at a market in the village of Échel on Friday and the next day brought to Independence Square in the village of Tonka, where she was executed in front of a crowd, according to local officials.
Cissé, who had over 140,000 followers, often posted videos wearing military-style fatigues and expressing support for the Malian army in its efforts to protect civilians. The abduction and execution are said to be linked to death threats she received days earlier. No group has claimed responsibility, but the area is known to be under the influence of the jihadist outfit Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wa al‑Muslimin (JNIM).
A chilling message amid an intensifying insurgency
In the remote northern region of Mali, the village of Tonka lies along the Niger River, about 150 km from the regional centre of Timbuktu. Local mayors say that Cissé was abducted from the market by armed men on Friday and, at dusk the following day, was executed publicly. The mayor of Timbuktu described how the same men brought her back to the village by nightfall.
Authorities say that Cissé posted videos supporting the Malian military and sometimes wore its uniform, though she was not an enlisted member. Her social-media activity reportedly drew attention in areas already under threat from insurgents. She had received death threats before her abduction.
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Mali has been battling armed groups since 2012, after a Tuareg rebellion morphed into an insurgency by jihadist factions. Despite international missions and domestic military rule, the security situation has worsened in recent years, especially following back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. Analysts warn that rural regions like Tonka are increasingly lawless and serve as staging grounds for jihadist operations.
Implications for free expression and civilian vulnerability
The killing of a prominent digital creator over her supportive posture toward the army sends a stark signal: civilians, especially women and social-media voices, are vulnerable in zones controlled or contested by armed groups. Observers say this may be a deliberate warning to others who express politically or militarily relevant opinions online.
The junta-run Malian government, backed by Russian mercenaries in recent years, has struggled to assert control beyond major towns. Jihadist groups have imposed Saudi-style fuel blockades, cut off supply routes and expanded their territorial reach. Some Western countries have recently advised their citizens to leave the Malian capital Bamako amid fears the regime may destabilize further.
In the immediate aftermath of Cissé’s execution, security forces have yet to announce a manhunt or arrests. Local residents say the lack of military or police presence in Tonka and neighbouring villages makes coordinated protection almost impossible.
