In response to the dramatic events of 17 September 2024, the Malian government has launched a vast operation to evacuate public roads of the capital, Bamako.
The aim is to guarantee access to the main roads for the security forces and emergency services.
In the aftermath of the attack in Bamako, a statement issued by the Ministry of Transport on 19 September 2024 stated that: “Owners of vehicles parked illegally along the roads are requested to remove them within 48 hours of the publication of the press release, failing which penalties will be imposed.”
The aim is to avoid any obstruction that could hamper the movements of the security forces in the event of rapid intervention where it is paramount and where kamikaze vehicles are also used against military installations.
The operation, led by the ‘Agence Nationale de la Securite Routiere’ (ANASER) in partnership with the national police, the Direction des ‘Operations de la Voirie Publique’ (DUBOPE) and the ‘Cellule Technique de la Regulation Urbaine’ (CETRU), began on certain key routes. The first vehicle removals took place in Djicoroni Para-Sebenicoro and on the road leading to the Wolofobougou market.
The authorities have announced that the operation will continue in other areas of Bamako in the coming days. ‘Our teams will be reinforced by the District Council to cover all sensitive areas’, said a ministry official.
This measure, while necessary to secure the main traffic routes, raises questions about parking management in a city where parking spaces are limited. Some residents have expressed concern about the difficulty of finding spaces that comply with the rules in force.
Mali continues to face insecurity that affects both its infrastructure and its people. Despite its distance from areas of direct conflict, Bamako remains vulnerable to attacks, which justifies the urgency of the measures taken by the government.
In a message following the twin attacks on 17 September, the authorities called on the citizens of Bamako to follow instructions and collaborate with the forces of law and order to ensure the security of the city during this period of tension.
MD/Sf/ac/fss/as/APA