Jihadists murder popular TikTok star

A popular Malian TikToker, Mariam Cissé, has been gruesomely killed by suspected jihadists after being accused of supporting Mali’s army through her social media posts.

Cissé, believed to be in her 20s, had over 100,000 followers and was known for uploading videos showcasing life in her hometown, Tonka, in the troubled Timbuktu region. In many of her clips, she appeared in military uniform and expressed open support for the army, once captioning a video “Vive Mali” (Long Live Mali).

According to reports, the young influencer was abducted while livestreaming from a market in a nearby town last Thursday. French radio station RFI said she was later moved by motorbike to Tonka, where she was executed in public at the town’s Independence Square — her brother was reportedly among those forced to watch.

“My sister was arrested by the jihadists,” her brother told AFP. “They accused her of informing the Malian army of their movements.”

A security source confirmed she was targeted for allegedly filming jihadists and sharing the footage with the military.

Her shocking death comes amid a worsening fuel blockade imposed by jihadist groups, which has crippled Mali’s economy and forced schools and universities to shut down for weeks. The African Union on Sunday expressed “deep concern” over the deteriorating situation, warning that terrorist blockades had disrupted access to essential supplies and worsened humanitarian conditions.

AU Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf condemned the “deliberate attacks against innocent civilians,” adding that the AU stood ready to support Mali and other Sahel nations “during this particularly challenging period.”

The Malian junta, which seized power in 2021, had pledged to restore security and crush insurgents. However, jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS continue to control large swathes of the north and east, defying military efforts and worsening civilian suffering.