Thierno Amadou Hady Tall, a prominent Malian Muslim leader, has died following his abduction by insurgents in late December, according to an audio message attributed to a senior militant figure circulating on social media on Monday.
Tall, the General Caliph of the Tijaniyyah, a major branch of Sufism in West Africa, was known for advocating moderation and non-violence. He was kidnapped near Mali’s border with Mauritania, with the abduction attributed to an Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group.
The message, allegedly from insurgent leader Amadou Koufa, claimed Tall died while being transferred to another location for interrogation.
A family member, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, told AFP that the news of Tall’s death appeared “credible.” They noted that he was injured during the abduction, which occurred as he returned from a religious gathering in a convoy of vehicles.
The insurgents reportedly accused Tall of collaborating with the Malian government, which continues to struggle against militant groups in a conflict that has destabilized the country since 2012.
Mali’s ongoing unrest has prompted its military rulers to sever ties with former colonial power France and strengthen alliances with Russia for both political and military support.