Armed men in Mali killed TikTok influencer Mariame Cissé, reportedly for her support of the military. Her abduction occurred on a Friday while she was at a market in Echel. The following day, she was brought back and executed in front of a crowd in Independence Square, according to Timbuktu’s mayor, Yehia Tandina.
Cissé, with over 150,000 followers, often shared videos in military-style clothing, which likely attracted unwanted attention. Before her kidnapping, she had received death threats, highlighting the dangers social media influencers can face.
Mali has been struggling with armed groups since 2012, a situation that has worsened in recent years. The military took power in a coup in 2020, hoping to tackle insecurity, but violence has surged. The group Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, operates in these regions and has become one of Africa’s most deadly jihadist organizations. They are also enforcing a fuel blockade in areas they control.
This tragic incident is not isolated. Globally, social media influencers have faced increasing violence. In New York, influencer Ariela Mejia-Polanco was shot while driving. In Venezuela, Jesus Sarmiento was killed during a livestream, exposing corruption within police forces. Such incidents emphasize a troubling trend where influencers become targets due to their public presence and the content they share.
Cissé’s story is a stark reminder of the risks faced by individuals who express their views online, especially in regions plagued by instability. It’s essential to understand and address these threats. For more on the issue of violence against influencers, check the report by BBC News here.
Source link
Mali, TikTok
