22-year-old Malian Tiktoker, Mariam Cissé has been reportedly been abducted and executed. Mariam who was somewhat a Tiktok figure with 100,000 followers often wore military outfits in her shoots as a way of supporting the military in their fuggt against the extremist groups.

According to Yehia Tandina, the mayor of Timbuktu region, she was abducted in a market on Friday by unknown gunmen. At dusk the next day, “the same men brought her back to Independence Square in Tonka and executed her in front of a crowd”, Tandina told the Associated Press.

Tonka is a village along the Niger River, about 90 miles from Timbuktu. Members of the al-Qaida affiliate Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, are known to operate there.

"My sister was arrested on Thursday by the jihadists," her brother told the AFP news agency, saying they had accused her of "informing the Malian army of their movements".

Over the weekend she was moved to Tonka by motorbike and shot at the town's Independence Square while her brother was in the crowd, AFP reports.

According to local reports, armed militants believed to be members of the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) accused her of spying for the Malian army after she appeared online wearing a military uniform with the caption “Vive Mali” which meant "Long live Mali."

Mariam Cissé who obviously wasn't part of the military or spying for them understood the risks she took making those videos, she also admitted to receiving death treats before she died, but for certain reasons it didn't deter her spirit of nationalism.

HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT

The execution of the young tiktoker, Mariam Cissé has sparked outrage and fear across Mali, where jihadist activity continues to destabilise the region.

The conflict in Mali began in 2012, when an uprising by Tuareg rebels was hijacked by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaida and later Islamic State. Despite French-led interventions and a UN peace mission, violence spread southward as insurgents exploited local grievances, corruption and weak governance.

Between 2020 to 2021, the military took power in back to back coup de'tats after which tensions with western allies deepened. The junta expelled French and UN forces, accusing them of interfering over human rights issues, and turned to Russia for support, including from Wagner mercenaries.

The russian mercenary group launched a 5 day operation in affected areas. From one helicopter, flying low over the marshes around the river outside the village, then the rattle of automatic fire scattered the crowds gathered for the weekly market.

More helicopters ensued and foot soldiers were quickly on ground firing shots at anyone who looked suspicious or tried to escape. When some of the armed militants fired shots back at the mercenaries, the shooting intensified resulting in significant casualties. Following the altercation, at least 20 civilians and a dozen alleged members of an al-Qaida affiliated Islamist group, were confirmed dead.

Over the next five days, hundreds more would die in the village of Moura in the Mopti region of Mali at the hands of troops overseen by Russian mercenaries, according to a new United Nations report. All but a small fraction were unarmed civilians.

MARIAM CISSÉ'S DEATH AND THE CURRENT STATE OF MALI

Mariam Cissé's death comes at a time where crisis caused by the jihadist blockade has worsened, with schools and universities remaining shut for weeks.

The government has for a month suspended learning institutions with hope that they will be able to address the crisis more efficiently and have them resume as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the dire situation has only persisted and gotten worse, and perhaps the state of Mali might be on the verge of collapse.

Comments are popping on various platforms saying the army had failed to end the insurgency, despite its promises to improve security, and tensions have developed within its ranks.

“The power grab only deepened its divisions, splitting the army between privileged loyalists of the regime and those sent to the front lines,” said Rama Yade, senior director of the Africa Centre at the Atlantic Council think tank. “Coupled with the departure of international forces from Mali, this fragmentation led to abandoned positions, weapons falling into the hands of separatists, and jihadists expanding their hold over the rural north.”

The jihadists have tightened control over key supply routes from neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania and Senegal.

Since September, the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have imposed a fuel blockade crippling transport and leaving hospitals struggling, and the government has been forced to shut down various institutions indefinitely. In Bamako, the capital, and other cities, queues stretch for miles for increasingly costly fuel and food.

European countries like France, the US, Germany and Italy have warned citizens of Mali to consider leaving the country by air since commercial flights are still available, as any journey by road is unsafe.

Although, the regime is doing its best to hold tight, analysts and observers say the fall of the regime is likely within weeks or months.

The instability has even led to more cases of insecurity like kidnapping. Last Wednesday, 5 Indian workers were kidnapped near Kobri in western Mali. On Saturday, members of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the abduction of three Egyptian nationals and demanded $5m to release them.

The African Union has “expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Mali”, calling for urgent international coordination and intelligence-sharing to help the junta restore stability.

Ultimately, the current state of Mali which is characterized by instability, fear and chaos has established that the regime can't meet up with the responsibility that comes with protecting the lives of its citizens, with Mariam Cissé's tragic death reinforcing this reality. Her execution also establishes the risk that comes with taking sides or a public stand in this conflict, as Mariam paid dearly with her life for siding with the military.

Beyond the immediate loss, her death has sent out cold shivers and ripples through the Malian Society, particularly among young people. This assassination even after the conflict ends will have lots of foreseen consequences on this generation of young people. We're looking at a society that will have young people that are scared to advocate or speak up for what is right, as they've been conditioned to look the other way at certain situations in order to survive.