Murder of Mariam Sissé: Public Execution of TikTok Activist in Northern Mali

The Malian public was left in shock on Sunday following the murder of TikTok activist Mariam Sissé, who had approximately 90,000 followers. She was reportedly abducted and executed publicly at the Independence Square in the town of Tonka, according to statements from her family and local officials.

According to her family, armed men kidnapped her on Thursday, accusing her of "collaborating with the Malian army and reporting on their movements." The following day, she was taken on a motorcycle to Independence Square, where she was shot in front of a crowd.

A security source, who wished to remain anonymous, described the act as "barbaric," while a local official labeled the execution a "cowardly act."

This incident occurs at a time when the military junta in power is struggling to control a decade-long armed insurgency. Recently, the group JNIM, linked to Al-Qaeda, has imposed a blockade in the northern region, disrupting fuel transport and leading to the closure of schools and hindering harvests in several areas.

The murder of Mariam raises serious concerns about security in northern Mali, particularly in light of ongoing attacks on civilians and social media activists.