Public Execution of TikTok Activist Mariam Sissé Shocks Northern Mali
Residents of Mali were 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 Independence Square in Tonka, northern Mali, according to statements from her family and local officials.
Her family indicated that armed men kidnapped her on Thursday, accusing her of "collaborating with the Malian army and reporting their movements." The following day, they transported her by motorcycle to Independence Square, where she was shot in front of a crowd.
A security source, who requested anonymity, described the act as "barbaric," while a local official referred to the execution as a "cowardly act."
This incident occurs amid ongoing challenges for the ruling military council, which is struggling to contain an armed rebellion that has persisted for over a decade. Recently, a group linked to Al-Qaeda has imposed blockades in northern Mali, disrupting fuel transport, leading to school closures and hindering agricultural harvests in several areas.
The murder of Mariam raises serious concerns about security in northern Mali, particularly regarding the continued attacks on civilians and social media activists.
