The Office de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision du Mali (ORTM) is Mali’s national broadcaster, with roots stretching back to Radio Soudan, founded in Bamako in 1957. Following independence in 1960, the station was rebranded as Radio Mali, and later became RTM. The present-day ORTM was established in 1992, as part of a media sector reorganization aimed at modernizing the country’s public broadcasting landscape.
Media assets
Television: ORTM 1, ORTM 2
Radio: Radio Mali, Radio Chaine 2, Radio Rurale
State Media Matrix Typology
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