A TIKTOK star was kidnapped and executed by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Mali – with her horrified family witnessing the public shooting.
Mariam Cisse was accused of collaborating with the army before being gunned down by the infamous Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) terror group.
The online personality, who had over 90,000 followers, used to post clips about life in the city of Tonka, in the northern Timbuktu region.
But she was shot dead in a public square on Friday in Mali – the latest African nation to be rocked by civil war and jihadist violence.
Mariam was suspected to have helped the Malian army by informing them of the activities of JNIM – also known as the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims activities.
Her devastated brother said: “My sister was arrested on Thursday by the jihadists.”
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He claimed the Al-Qaeda affiliate had accused her of “informing the Malian army of their movements”.
Mariam was known for publicly supporting the army – with the influencer donning their uniforms in her videos on several occasions.
She was reportedly captured by several armed men while she was visiting a local fair before being driven out of the city.
The arrest unfolded while she was livestreaming the fair to her many fans.
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On Friday, the jihadists took Mariam to Tonka by motorbike.
She was brutally shot dead in Independence Square, a significant landmark in the city.
Her grief-stricken brother said he was forced to watch her sister’s gory death from the crowd.
Mariam was best known for posting comedic and lighthearted videos that focused on social issues and the realities of living in an unstable country.
A security source said: “Mariam Cisse has been assassinated in a public square in Tonka by jihadists who accused her of having filmed them for the Malian army.”
The anonymous source called it a “barbaric” act, the Daily Mail reported.
Local authorities also confirmed the execution – denouncing it as an “ignoble act”.
They explained the terrorists carried out the vicious killing to discourage other Malians from publicly supporting government forces.
It comes as the military junta in Mali struggles to contain the long-running jihadist insurgency.
In recent weeks JNIM fighters have imposed a fuel blockade that has forced the government to close schools and stopped harvesting in several regions.
The latest show of force by the group has raised concerns that it might eventually try to impose its rule over the landlocked country.
Western countries including the US, France, Britain and Italy are urging their citizens to leave.
JNIM is the most influential jihadist group in Mali – posing the “most significant threat in the Sahel”, according to the United Nations.
The terror group wants to implement Sharia law and is trying to delegitimize neighbouring Sahelian states in order to make it seem like a better alternative.
It indirectly governs villages via agreements tailored to different regions.
Meanwhile, its propaganda machine makes unfounded claims that it is defending the local populations.
JNIM has expanded its influence over a large portion of territory over recent months.
The group have funded themselves through taxes and kidnapping for ransoms.
It comes as rogue paramilitary forces in Sudan have been accused of committing fresh atrocities.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the army since April 2023, has escalated its military assaults as it readies for an offensive to seize the capital El-Obeid.
Less than two weeks ago, the RSF captured the city of El-Fasher, the army’s last major stronghold in Darfur.
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El-Fasher’s fall was accompanied by reports of mass killings, sexual violence and looting, drawing international condemnation.
In just 48 hours, more than 2,000 civilians were “executed and killed”, according to the Sudanese army’s Joint Forces.
