In Bamako, two young men were fatally shot by military personnel this morning near the premises of Mali’s national broadcaster, ORTM. The incident occurred just before sunrise, around 5:30 a.m., in a highly secured area that also houses a well-known hotel in the capital.
According to military authorities, the two individuals, traveling on a motorcycle, allegedly attempted to force their way through security checkpoints surrounding the ORTM headquarters. However, conflicting accounts from locals suggest the victims were seasonal workers heading to their construction site.
Residents of Bamako are growing increasingly accustomed to the frequent checkpoints scattered across the city, though reactions to the shooting remain sharply divided.
Security tightens amid ongoing threats
Checkpoints near the ORTM were established following coordinated attacks by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in late April, which targeted multiple locations across the country, including Bamako. Military sources claim the two men ignored warning shots after breaching the first barrier, prompting armed forces to open fire.
A local driver, who preferred to remain anonymous, argued that the victims should have anticipated the risks. « Everyone knows this area is off-limits without authorization, especially during periods of heightened alert. If warnings are issued, the smart move is to stop and avoid trouble. The soldiers were justified in their actions. »
Questions linger over the fatal encounter
Not all locals share this perspective. Seyba, another resident of Bamako, believes the situation could have been handled differently. « Why didn’t they aim for the motorcycle or shoot to wound instead of killing them outright? Now we’ll never know what really happened. Even if these men were suspects, their deaths leave too many unanswered questions. »
Testimonies collected on-site indicate the victims were indeed seasonal workers en route to their employment site, unaware of the restricted access rules in place.
In response to the incident, authorities have reinforced security measures around the ORTM sector, military camps in the capital, and the Bamako-Sénou International Airport, which is now under strict surveillance and limited to authorized personnel only.
