The victim’s name was Maria Cissé and I barely had 20 years. She was a young woman well known on social networks such as TikTok, where she had more than 150,000 followers.
With them he shared everyday scenes from his town, located in the region of Timbuktu, or herself talking about different topics.
The young woman was kidnapped last Thursday, November 6, by some armed men unidentified people, aboard motorcycles, while recording videos in the town market, an area where the central government is almost non-existent.
It has little Army presence and is also known for the activity of the jihadists of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM by its Arabic acronym, loyal to Al Qaeda).
The next day, the kidnappers returned to the town with Cissé and took her to the Plaza de la Independencia where she they murdered in front of the citizens who were present at the scene, including members of his own family.
His brother, forced to witness the executionreported that the jihadists detained her on the accusation of having informed the army about their movements. “It was devastating,” he said.
According to local sources, the jihadists They accused the young woman influencer of collaborate with the army of the country, by appearing in some videos on TikTok in military uniform, and for his activism on the networks. However, no jihadist group has yet claimed responsibility for the murder.
His execution, described by security sources as an act of “barbarism” and by a local official as “ignoble,” seeks—according to authorities—to instill fear and discourage civilian support for government forces.
The murder has shocked Malian society and provoked criticism among activists, artists and politicians, with the exception of fundamentalist religious sectors that did not speak out.
The former Minister of Mali Raky Takka and current member of the National Transitional Council, which acts as the country’s parliament, condemned the murder of the young woman and called on feminist organizations in Mali to pay tribute to her.
“Cisse was subjected to ignoble treatment before being executed in a cold manner for having assumed her patriotism and her convictions throughout Mali,” he stressed.
According to local sources, the government of Timbuktu delivered food and a sum of money to Cissé’s family.
Security crisis
Mali, governed by a military junta since the 2020 coup, remains mired in deep security crisis due to the activity of jihadist groups linked to both the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, responsible for frequent attacks against the armed forces and the civilian population.
Since September, there has been a worrying escalation of jihadist violenceespecially in the center and west of the country.
Armed groups have not only increased their attacks, but have also imposed a blockade on fuel supplies from Senegal and Ivory Coast.
The insurgents intercept the tanker trucks at the entrances to Bamako, stop them and set them on fire, generating a severe fuel shortage throughout the territory.
Faced with a lack of fuel, many Malians turn to a flourishing black market to supply themselves.
Growing insecurity and the economic impact of the crisis have led several countries, including Spain, the United States, Germany, Italy and France, to recommend their citizens consider leaving Mali due to the risks associated with the situation.