Malian TikToker killed by militants for supporting army
Additional reports state that she was taken back to Tonka over the weekend and shot execution-style in the town square, with some of her relatives watching helplessly from the crowd.
A female TikToker in Mali has reportedly been killed by suspected militants for expressing vocal support for the Malian army.
Reports indicate that Mariam Cissé, a Timbuktu region native believed to be in her 20s, was apprehended by militants on Thursday last week, while live-streaming to her roughly 100,000 followers from a neighbouring town bordering her Tonka hometown.
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Additional reports state that she was taken back to Tonka over the weekend and shot execution-style in the town square, with some of her relatives watching helplessly from the crowd.
According to a security source who spoke to AFP, the young woman was assassinated for allegedly spying on militants for the Malian army and reporting their movements.
The deceased has also appeared in several of her TikTok videos wearing a military uniform, seemingly showing her support for the Malian army.
The shocking execution comes amid a deepening crisis in Mali. For weeks, militants from the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, have imposed blockades on major highways, attacking fuel tankers and cutting off vital supplies to the landlocked country.
Since taking power in 2021, Mali's military government has promised to improve security, but much of the north and east remains outside its control, leaving communities exposed to militant attacks.
Mali's capital, Bamako, has particularly faced severe fuel shortages, with numerous schools and universities remaining closed as the Malian government struggles to maintain security.
According to ABC News, some fuel stations in Bamako reopened on Monday after being closed for weeks due to the blockade. Delivery trucks made it into the city despite coming under gunfire, and schools in Bamako were able to welcome students back for the first time since the blockade was lifted.
The crisis has prompted foreign governments, including France, to advise their citizens to leave Mali while commercial flights are still available.
"French nationals are advised to plan a temporary departure from Mali as soon as possible on the commercial flights still available," the French Foreign Ministry said last week.
The African Union (AU) has also expressed concern over the rapid deterioration of security in the country, warning that terrorist blockades are disrupting access to essential goods and worsening humanitarian conditions for civilians.
"The Chairperson (Mahmoud Ali Youssouf) firmly condemns the deliberate attacks against innocent civilians, which have resulted in unacceptable loss of life and heightened instability across affected regions," said the AU in a statement.
"He reaffirms his solidarity with the Government and people of Mali, as well as with the families of the victims, and reiterates the African Union's unwavering commitment to supporting peace, security, and development across the Sahel."
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