Malian TikToker Executed by Suspected Jihadists After Supporting Army Online
Influential TikTok Creator Targeted Amid Mali’s Ongoing Jihadist Insurgency
- Mariam Cissé, known for supporting Mali’s army online, was executed by suspected jihadists.
- She had over 100,000 followers and often posted pro-military content.
- Her death comes amid fuel blockades, school closures, and ongoing jihadist control in northern Mali.
Mali is in shock following the killing of Mariam Cissé, a popular TikTok creator who was accused of aiding the country’s military.
Cissé, reportedly in her 20s with over 100,000 followers, shared videos highlighting life in her hometown of Tonka, in northern Timbuktu, often expressing support for the army. State media said she had aimed to promote her community and encourage backing for Mali’s military through her posts.
French public radio RFI reported that she was seized by suspected jihadists while live-streaming from a market in a neighboring town. Her brother told AFP that militants accused her of “informing the Malian army of their movements.” She was later taken back to Tonka and executed in Independence Square, with her brother witnessing the attack.
A security source told AFP that the motive for her assassination was her alleged documentation of jihadists for the army. Some of her TikTok videos showed her wearing military attire, and one post was captioned Vive Mali (“Long Live Mali”).
Her death comes amid escalating tensions caused by a jihadist-imposed fuel blockade, which has disrupted daily life in Bamako and forced the closure of schools and universities for weeks. The government has pledged to reopen educational institutions as soon as the crisis allows.
International concern is growing. The French Foreign Ministry advised its citizens to leave Mali while commercial flights remain available. AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf condemned the attack, calling it a “deliberate attack against innocent civilians” and expressed readiness to support Mali and other Sahel countries during this crisis.
Mali relies on road imports of fuel from neighboring countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast, making the blockade particularly damaging. Despite a military takeover in 2021 and promises to restore security, large portions of northern and eastern Mali remain under jihadist control, leaving civilians at continued risk.
