Two young men were killed by military personnel near the headquarters of Mali’s national broadcaster, ORTM, in Bamako early Thursday morning. The incident occurred just before 5:30 a.m. in an area under heavy security that also houses a prominent hotel in the capital.

The authorities claim the pair, traveling on a motorcycle, attempted to breach checkpoints surrounding the ORTM complex. However, local accounts suggest the victims were seasonal workers heading to their construction site.

Residents of Bamako are now accustomed to frequent checkpoints, but opinions vary on the military’s response. Some defend the soldiers’ actions, while others question why lethal force was used.

Heightened security measures

Stringent security protocols were implemented around the ORTM area on April 25, coinciding with ongoing clashes between Malian armed forces and fighters from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). The militants had launched simultaneous attacks in seven locations, including Bamako.

The military command stated the two men ignored warning shots after allegedly forcing their way through the first checkpoint. Subsequent shots were fired, resulting in their deaths, according to official accounts.

A local driver, who requested anonymity, emphasized the risks of unauthorized movement in the area. « Everyone knows that during this period, no one should enter this zone without authorization. The entrances are closed, and during alerts, you must stop to avoid trouble. The soldiers were justified in their actions. »

Questions over the fatal shooting

Not everyone shares this perspective. Seyba, a Bamako resident, argued that the soldiers could have taken non-lethal measures to detain the men for questioning. « Instead of shooting to kill, they should have aimed for the motorcycle or the men’s legs to disable them. Now that they’re dead, we’ll never know what really happened. Even if they were suspected terrorists, this leaves too many unanswered questions. »

Eyewitnesses on-site identified the victims as seasonal workers heading to their temporary construction jobs. They reportedly acted out of ignorance of the strict access rules.

Security has since been further tightened around the ORTM sector and other key locations in the capital, including military camps and the Senou International Airport, which now operates under strict access controls for travelers and staff only.