Media assets

Television: ORTM 1, ORTM 2

Radio: Radio Mali, Radio Chaine 2, Radio Rurale

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

ORTM operates as a public administrative institution (Établissement public à caractère administratif, EPA) with legal personality and financial autonomy. It was formally created by Law No. 92-021 and reorganized in 2015 through Ordinance No. 2015-036/PRM, which reaffirmed its role in delivering public service broadcasting while separating its transmission infrastructure into a different entity.

The broadcaster is overseen by a Council of Administration, whose members are appointed by the government. Day-to-day operations are managed by the General Director, also designated through a government decree. The Ministry of Communication, Digital Economy and Modernisation of Administration presides over the governance structure and functions as the chair of the board.

As of May 2025, Abdoulaye Traoré continues to serve as ORTM’s Director General, having been reappointed in early 2023 amid criticisms regarding the outlet’s editorial bias.

Source of funding and budget

ORTM’s operations are supported through a hybrid model of commercial income and state subsidies. While it historically generated over half its budget independently, the proportion of state funding has increased in recent years due to declining advertising revenues and operational inefficiencies.

According to minutes from a board session held on 29 December 2023, ORTM’s 2024 budget was XOF 12.8 billion (approx. US$ 22 million). Of this, XOF 6.94 billion (62%) was sourced from the national budget, reflecting a growing reliance on public funding. Internal revenue generation continues to decline, a trend exacerbated by economic stagnation and limited private sector advertising.

Editorial independence

ORTM’s editorial line remains closely aligned with government messaging, with its programming regularly described as propaganda-laden and overwhelmingly supportive of the ruling authorities. Independent journalists and former staff have repeatedly reported incidents of blatant censorship, particularly since the military-led transitional government assumed power.

In 2024, multiple Malian journalists interviewed for this report described ORTM as a “megaphone for state power,” lacking any pretense of balance or critical journalism. Coverage of opposition voices and civic protests is either omitted or reframed to favor official narratives.

As of June 2025, there is still no domestic legal framework or independent oversight mechanism guaranteeing ORTM’s editorial autonomy. Despite calls from press freedom groups and regional bodies such as the African Union’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, no concrete reforms have been implemented.

June 2025

Media assets

News agency: AMAP

Publishing: L’Essor

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State Managed or Owned Media (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

AMAP is a state-owned public institution, established by Law No. 79-5/AN-RM on 29 November 1979 as a public service entity. Its leadership is appointed by decree from the government, and the agency reports to the Ministry of Communication, Digital Economy, and Modernisation of Administration.

In early 2025, Alassane Souleymane, a journalist trained at CESTI in Dakar, was named Director General, replacing Bréhima Touré, who had also trained at the same journalism school. This leadership change was part of a broader media sector shake-up under the transitional government.

Source of funding and budget

AMAP is funded through a mix of state subsidies and commercial revenues, including advertising and printing services. In 2023, AMAP operated with a budget of XOF 2.28 billion (~US$3.9 million), a 6.8% decrease from the previous year. State support accounted for XOF 815 million (~US$1.4 million), remaining virtually unchanged from 2022 levels. Total expenses for 2023 were reported at XOF 1.755 billion, suggesting a continued structural reliance on public funds.

The agency has publicly declared intentions to increase its commercial revenue streams in order to reduce its dependence on government funding. However, no major diversification strategy has yet been implemented or made public.

In mid‑2024, AMAP announced it had budgeted funds to recruit an external auditor tasked with certifying its financial accounts for the years 2024–2026. This marks a step toward increased financial transparency.

At the fifth session of its Board held in early 2025, AMAP adopted a provisional budget of approximately XOF 2.463 billion for the year 2025, according to a post on the agency’s Facebook page. This projection points to a modest increase from previous budgets, signaling intentions to scale operations.

Editorial independence

While AMAP once enjoyed a degree of editorial latitude—especially during the post-1991 democratic opening—its current content is widely perceived as pro-government. Interviews conducted with four Malian journalists between February and June 2024 and again with three journalists in May 2025 reveal that AMAP’s reporting is now closely aligned with state messaging, and often avoids or softens coverage critical of government policy. A senior reporter interviewed in Bamako noted, “One can’t say the agency has total freedom to publish just anything. There’s always an invisible hand.”

As of mid-2025, no statute explicitly guarantees AMAP’s editorial autonomy and o independent oversight body exists to assess or safeguard journalistic freedom within the agency.

L’Essor’s editorial line mirrors these trends, focusing largely on official communiqués, ministerial activities, and presidential coverage. Critical analysis and opposition viewpoints are rarely, if ever, featured.

June 2025