In the heart of Mali’s Tombouctou region, the town of Tonka is reeling from another targeted assassination by jihadist forces. The latest victim, Abdoulaye Tandina, was a well-known figure, affectionately called Badou “Wayé”—meaning “the butcher” in Songhai—or simply Abba by the children he treated with particular kindness, according to a heartfelt tribute from a close acquaintance.

On Monday evening, as dusk settled, armed assailants seized Tandina from the bustling market square where he sold his meat. They then led him a short distance away before executing him by the roadside, a brutal act that has sent shockwaves through the community.

Abdoulaye Tandina hailed from a long line of butchers in Tombouctou and had established himself in Tonka for at least four decades, as recalled by a long-time friend. He had even risen to the respected position of chief butcher in the town, a role he had since relinquished. His daughter, who manages a business in Tombouctou, is described as “inconsolable” by a sympathetic family member.

community grapples with inexplicable motive behind assassination

Abdoulaye Tandina’s death marks the fourth targeted killing in Tonka within just over eight months, highlighting a disturbing pattern of violence by jihadist groups in Mali. Previously, a local youth association leader was killed in late March, followed by a Quranic teacher in June. In November 2025, the public execution of Mariam Cissé, a young TikTok user openly supporting the Malian army, had profoundly shocked the nation and drawn international attention to Africa breaking news regarding the escalating conflict.

However, unlike some previous victims, Tandina’s inner circle insists he did not publicly express political convictions, leaving them puzzled as to why jihadists would single him out. A family member disclosed that Abdoulaye Tandina was a cousin of the current head of Tombouctou’s special delegation, which serves as the acting municipal authority in the absence of elections. Yet, this familial connection does not appear to provide a sufficient explanation for the brutal assassination, deepening the mystery surrounding the motive for this latest act of terror in Mali’s northern regions.

Neither the governorate of the Tombouctou region nor the Malian army has provided any official comment on the incident.