Malian TikToker Publicly Executed by Suspected Jihadists after Pro-Army Posts

Malian TikToker Publicly Executed by Suspected Jihadists after Pro-Army Posts.

BAMAKO, Mali – A woman who used the social media platform TikTok to express support for Mali’s military has been killed by an armed group in a public execution, according to multiple news reports and her family. The death points to the increasing dangers for civilians caught in the West African nation’s long-running conflict.

The victim, identified as Ms Cissé, was reportedly seized by the fighters while she was live-streaming from a market in a town near her home. French public radio RFI reported that the assailants were suspected members of a jihadist group.

Her brother, who spoke with the AFP news agency, said the group accused his sister of working with the Malian army. “My sister was arrested by the jihadists,” he told AFP. “They accused her of informing the Malian army of their movements.”

After her arrest over the weekend, the situation took a tragic turn. Ms Cissé was transported to the town of Tonka by motorbike. There, in a public square known as Independence Square, she was shot by her captors. Her brother was present in the crowd that witnessed the killing, AFP reported.

A security official in Mali, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the motive for the assassination was the accusation that she had been filming the jihadists and sharing the information with government forces.

On her TikTok account, which has now drawn international attention, Ms Cissé sometimes appeared in military uniform. In one of her posts, she used the caption “Vive Mali,” which translates to “Long Live Mali,” a show of patriotism and support for the country’s armed forces.

Her death occurs at a time when the security situation in Mali has become more severe. A blockade imposed by jihadist groups has caused major disruptions, leading to fuel shortages and forcing schools and universities to close for weeks.

The country’s government suspended classes last month, promising to do “everything possible to address the crisis” in time for a planned reopening. However, the problems have continued.

The crisis has grown so concerning that on Friday, the French foreign ministry issued a warning for its citizens to leave Mali without delay while commercial flights are still an option.

The chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he is worried about the “rapid deterioration of the security situation where terrorist groups have imposed blockades, disrupted access to essential supplies, and severely worsened humanitarian conditions for civilian populations.”

He also spoke out against the “deliberate attacks against innocent civilians” that have led to what he called an “unacceptable loss of lives and heightened instability.” He added that the African Union is prepared “to support Mali, as well as all Sahel countries, during this particularly challenging period.”

The fuel shortages have been felt acutely in the capital, Bamako. The crisis stems from attacks on fuel tankers traveling on major roads by militants linked to al-Qaeda. Because Mali is a landlocked country, it depends entirely on these supply routes from neighboring countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast for its fuel.

Mali’s current military government took control in a 2021 coup, pledging to restore security and defeat the jihadist insurgency. Despite these promises, the violence has not ended, and the government struggles to maintain authority over large areas in the north and east of the country. The public execution of Ms Cissé is a sobering reminder of the control armed groups still wield and the extreme risks faced by civilians.