Troops in Bamako opened fire on two men riding a motorcycle near the ORTM headquarters early Thursday morning, killing both. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. in a district ringed by military checkpoints and home to a prominent capital hotel.

The army claims the men attempted to force their way through security barriers protecting the national broadcaster. Yet several witnesses described the victims as seasonal laborers heading to a nearby construction site, raising doubts about the official account.

Bamako residents remain divided over the soldiers’ decision to shoot, as the city adapts to life under increasingly frequent roadblocks.

barriers and heightened vigilance

The checkpoints were set up on April 25, the same day coordinated attacks by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) struck seven locations across Mali, including Bamako. Military officials state the two men ignored warning shots after allegedly breaching the first barrier. The soldiers then fired, killing both individuals.

One driver, who asked to remain anonymous, defended the soldiers’ actions. « Everyone knows this area is off-limits without authorization during heightened alert periods. You must stop when told or face the consequences. The troops were justified in defending a critical zone. »

questions linger over the killings

Not everyone accepts the military’s version. Seyba, a resident of Bamako, believes the soldiers could have disabled the motorcycle or wounded the riders to detain them for questioning. « Shooting to kill eliminates any chance of learning the truth. Even if they were suspects, we’ll never know what really happened. »

Local accounts gathered on the scene indicate the victims were seasonal workers heading to their job site. Authorities suggest they may have been unaware of the access restrictions.

Security around the ORTM sector has since been tightened further. Similar measures have been applied to military camps throughout the capital and at Bamako-Sénou International Airport, where access is limited to travelers and authorized personnel only.