News Center — Mali, especially in areas outside government control, witnesses killings of civilians accused of collaborating with authorities or foreign forces. These practices are used as a means to spread fear and assert control over local populations.

Mariam Cissé, a TikTok activist, was kidnapped on Thursday, November 6, by armed men believed to belong to jihadist groups in northern Mali. They accused her of "informing the army about their movements."

A relative explained that the next day, they took her on a motorcycle to Tonka, where they shot her in Independence Square in front of everyone.

This crime comes amid escalating violations targeting women and activists in areas outside government control in Mali, drawing widespread condemnation from local communities and human rights groups.

Mariam Cissé was known for posting videos about the city of Tonka in the Timbuktu region in northern Mali, and she had around 90,000 followers. However, her kidnappers accused her of "collaborating" with the Malian army.

The news of her death caused widespread shock among the population, against the backdrop of a politically and security-wise unstable country under a military council facing ongoing armed rebellions since 2012.

This incident reflects the rising violations in areas beyond state control, amid increasing public concern over the deterioration of security and human rights conditions