Executed in the town of Tonka was Mariam Cissé, a TikTok influencer well known for promoting Mali’s military dictatorship. The jihadist crisis in the country is continuing to worsen at a shocking pace. This incident is further testimony to the deteriorating security environment in Mali. Since 2012, the country has been embroiled in persistent violence that began with a Tuareg rebel uprising quickly commandeered by jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaida, and eventually the Islamic State.
The military junta in Bamako, Mali’s capital, has recently asked French and United Nations forces to leave. In addition, they condemned these forces for impeding international human rights advocacy. In turn, Mali has made overtures to Russia, courting their support. This includes measures like bringing in Wagner Group mercenaries to fill its military manpower gap. Jihadist groups have further deepened their control over important supply routes from other neighboring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Senegal. This new layer of control has deepened the complex humanitarian crisis in the region.
These days, Cissé has more than 100,000 followers on TikTok. As a staunch supporter of the Malian army, in her videos she often dons combat gear. She had received a number of death threats leading up to her execution. Yehia Tandina, the mayor of the Timbuktu region, was kidnapped last Friday. He shared that Cissé was taken to Independence Square in Tonka by her captors and shot in front of a public gathering there.
“This young woman simply wanted to promote her community through her TikTok posts and encourage the Malian army in its missions to protect people and their property.” – a report on state TV
The JNIM group — an al-Qaida affiliate held to be a primary threat in the region — has claimed several kidnappings in Mali. Among the victims are three Egyptian nationals and JNIM is demanding a ransom of $5 million for their release. JNIM has enforced a fuel blockade since September, paralyzing transportation networks and forcing hospitals to cease functioning. The blockade has significantly impacted the quality of public services in Mali. In response, the administration has had no choice but to close schools for the foreseeable future.
The African Union is clearly concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Mali. Yet they have been trumpeting the need for international coordination and intelligence sharing to assist the junta in bringing order back to the region. Some observers have noted that the regime’s power grab further deepened preexisting cracks in the military. This has led to a huge disconnect between the junta’s loyalists and the ground soldiers facing off in Ukraine.
“The power grab only deepened its divisions, splitting the army between privileged loyalists of the regime and those sent to the frontlines.” – Rama Yade, senior director of the Africa Centre at the Atlantic Council thinktank.
If trends as they currently are continue, analysts warn that Mali’s regime may be on the eve of a collapse—possibly within weeks or months. The situation is still very dynamic with violence escalating further against the backdrop of an ongoing political crisis and humanitarian catastrophe.