Mali media guide

Mali’s jihadist insurgency and the military-led government have degraded media freedoms.

Militant groups threaten journalists and target media outlets. Pro-junta groups have demanded “patriotic journalism”, leading to self-censorship.

Radio is the leading medium. There are hundreds of stations, operated by private and community broadcasters and by the state-run Office de Radiodiffusion-Television du Mali (ORTM). The BBC broadcasts in Bamako (88.9 FM).

The TV sector is much smaller.

Almost all daily and weekly newspapers publish from Bamako. Circulation figures are low. L’Essor is the leading title.

There were 12.4 million internet uses by December 2021, comprising 59% of the population (Internetworldstats.com). The regime has not interfered with internet or social media access.

Social media use is concentrated in the cities and among young people. Facebook is the top platform.

Press/Online

L’Essor – state-owned daily

Le Republican – private daily

L’Independent – private daily

Les Echos – private daily

Le Combat – private daily

MaliWeb – news portal

Malijet – news website

aBamako – news website

Maliactu – news website

Television

Office de la Radiodiffusion Television du Mali (ORTM) – public, operates ORTM TV and TM2, programmes in French and local languages

Africable TV – privately-owned pan-African TV, based in Bamako

Radio

Office de Radiodiffusion Television du Mali (ORTM) – public network of national and regional stations

Mikado FM – operated by UN’s MINUSMA mission

Radio Bamakan – community station, Bamako

Radio Liberte – private, Bamako

Radio Kledu – private, Bamako

Radio Kayira – private, Bamako

News agency

AMAP – Agence Malienne de Presse

BBC