Abdoul Salam Maïga, a Quranic teacher at a medersa in Tonka, was peacefully engaging in conversation with friends in his traditional grin near the local market when armed jihadists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) interrupted and ordered him to follow them. Witnesses report that the militants returned shortly after, blindfolding Maïga before executing him in a public display of violence.

Local leaders suggest multiple motives behind the killing. Some speculate it may stem from religious disputes, with one source noting, ‘Perhaps he refused to collaborate with them.’ However, most residents believe Maïga’s suspected ties to the Malian military were the primary reason for his execution.

Tonka has recently become a focal point of escalating violence. In November, the region was shocked by the public execution of Mariam Cissé, a young social media influencer known for her vocal support of Mali’s military forces.

Earlier, in late March, Amadou Baby, a youth organization leader in Tonka, was gunned down in broad daylight. While JNIM claimed Baby’s group was aiding Malian security forces, some residents argue that Tonka lacks any military presence, casting doubt on those accusations.

A local resident expressed the community’s growing unease, stating, ‘The people of Tonka, Diré, Goundam, and Tombouctou are horrified by these killings. It has sent shockwaves through the entire region.’