Bamako's bridges: crossing the Niger, from Martyrs Bridge to the third bridge

Bamako spreads along both banks of the Niger River. The old town, the administration and the Grand Market are on the left bank, to the north; much of the residential city, the airport and the most populous arrondissements are on the right bank, to the south. Three road bridges link the two halves of the city, and most daily traffic goes through them.

Key points

• Martyrs Bridge (1957), the "old bridge", between the city centre and Badalabougou.
• King Fahd Bridge (early 1990s), the "new bridge", 500 metres upstream.
• Sino-Malian Friendship Bridge (2011), the third bridge, at Sotuba.
• Before the 1950s, people crossed on the Sotuba causeway, a cut-stone passage in shallow water 8 km downstream.

Martyrs Bridge, the "old bridge"

Opened in 1957, in the colonial era, as the Badalabougou bridge, it was renamed Martyrs Bridge in memory of the protesters killed during the events of March 1991, which ended Moussa Traoré's regime. It links two major roads: to the north, avenue du Fleuve and avenue Modibo-Keïta, with place Lumumba, rising towards the Koulouba presidential palace; to the south, avenue de l'OUA, the main road between the city centre and Modibo Keïta International Airport.

On the north side it leads into Quartier du Fleuve, home to the Independence Monument and several major administrations: see our guide to Bamako's monuments.

King Fahd Bridge, the "new bridge"

Built 500 metres upstream of Martyrs Bridge with funding from the Saudi Fund for Development, it is named after King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Wikipedia dates its opening to 1992 or 1993 depending on the article. Like Martyrs Bridge, it links the former Commune III, in the city centre, with Badalabougou. It carries avenue de l'AES. At its entrance stands the Modibo Keïta Memorial, dedicated to Mali's first president.

Until 2011, these two bridges were the only crossings of the Niger in Bamako, which funnelled traffic between the two banks into a few hundred metres of the city centre.

The Sino-Malian Friendship Bridge, the third bridge

The third bridge opened on 22 September 2011, the 51st anniversary of independence. Funded by China, it crosses the river at Sotuba, to the east, to relieve congestion in the centre. It links the eastern left-bank neighbourhoods directly to the right bank without going through the city centre.

Before the bridges: the Sotuba causeway

Before the 1950s, the only way to cross the Niger at Bamako was the Sotuba causeway, a cut-stone passage in shallow water at a natural rapid, 8 km downstream of the city. Downstream of Bamako, the first all-season crossing of the river is the Markala dam, more than 200 km to the north-east, beyond Ségou.

Getting from one bank to the other

Sotrama shared minibuses serve both banks and use the bridges: see our Sotrama guide. During the rainy season, from June to September, traffic on the main roads is harder: see our page on Bamako's climate.

Frequently asked questions

How many bridges does Bamako have?

Three road bridges cross the Niger: Martyrs Bridge, King Fahd Bridge and the Sino-Malian Friendship Bridge.

Why is it called Martyrs Bridge?

It was renamed in memory of the protesters killed during the events of March 1991; it was previously the Badalabougou bridge.

When did Bamako's third bridge open?

On 22 September 2011, for the 51st anniversary of independence.

Sources: Wikipedia — Martyrs Bridge, Bamako (French), Wikipedia — King Fahd Bridge (French), Wikipedia — List of monuments of Bamako (French)