World’s Most Dangerous Roads | Mali | Free Documentary

In the heart of West Africa you drive on

roads

that do not deserve that name because they are dusty dirt

roads

that do not appear on any map and can only be traveled with great effort and for a few months a year you are at risk a passenger on every road. travel in the bushes of Mali in the savannah of this West African country there are some fully developed roads the dirt roads seem to make erratic lines on the patched planes

most

people here do not have cars minibuses vans and trucks travel daily between the villages On market days there is intense activity many traders and customers are on the road as the dirt roads are unpredictable and the vehicles are in poor condition every trip becomes an adventure in recent years abdullah donbelle has been driving for a businessman Transport driver is a focused driver because no one is immune to unwanted surprises on dusty dirt tracks.

Abdullahi knows many of his passengers to keep them happy. he talks to them and wants them to feel in good hands. Accidents happen all the time here. There are so many curves on our roads. God has blessed me with luck since I've been working. I haven't had any accidents yet, but the cars keep overturning. The roads are in bad condition. Not a month goes by without hearing about an overturned car. Drivers who are not from here they simply go too fast and the traders travel from market to market to sell their products they only take the minibus in the dry periods when the rains come they travel in boats that cars would reach Stuck in modern water, we are finished, when the water disappear between Jafar Bay and Tenenku, then it will be very bumpy and the dust is horrible.

Now it's just torture, but that's what any job you do, you can't run. away from there only when God

free

s you can you get away from it for about seven months between October and May it is dry so it is high season for land transport as soon as the first rains arrive the region becomes a huge sheet of water in the central

mali

in the messina region the niger river, one of the largest rivers in the

world

, floods large areas the dirt roads disappear only when the water recedes the villagers can be reached again by vehicle what remains is sand and dust the dry and warm wind from the northeast of the sahara the hamatan brings even more dust in march and april the temperature source exceeds 50 degrees it is foggy for weeks the vehicles have trouble making their way through the broken earth and razed forts it takes time to create new dirt roads the heat makes people probably moderate a discussion between the transporters who are loading a truck what it is probably only the one who is

most

upset knows for sure his co-workers hope the noise doesn't last Many prefer to conserve their strength.

Work is. Countless bags of onions, dried fish, millet, spices and mangoes have to be loaded into trucks. They often weigh between 30 and 40 kilos. There is almost nothing that is not loaded, whether it is an individual part or a mass product. It's all about pricing space and willingness to ensure trucks don't tip over heavy things go from the bottom to the middle if possible siku and daiye know the importance of loading correctly he and his colleague died jay maiga have been driving their truck through the savannah half of their lives although they are not blood relatives and each is their own boss they feel like brothers the union in the bush and the challenges of work have forged a bond over the years the roots are

dangerous

at first It seems easy to drive between the two bushes and trees, but if you go fast, accidents happen quickly, especially on curves, the traffic has increased, there are more mopeds, more cars and more donkey carts driven by the villagers.

If you think I know the way, there are no potholes and you drive fast, you can do it. you easily collide with a car or moped driver or crash into another car the next after the goods are the animals that travel along with their owners to make sure that nothing is lost during the trip the cargo is secured with ropes, cords and straps drg and siku are responsible for the transport they have to repair any loss or damage the passengers are the last to get on board how they get on board is up to them they also get their goods on board to be able to keep an eye on them it always takes time for everyone to find their place the people wait in the heat at the start there are always arguments about who sits where above the driver's cabin is the most comfortable place hey they tell you to fix the water canister the water canister you take it off there and fix it here whenever possible drg and siku drive in a convoy that way the drivers can help each other in case of an accident or breakdown some stragglers arrive who also want to travel the drivers wait for them depend on each client, as long as drg and siku do not arrive too late to the next station, no one will complain for now, everyone is happy that the trucks are finally moving, even if there are initial difficulties, the passengers are stoic to the fact that the trucks are driving too. too close to the trees and the branches hit them if they go faster this could cause serious injuries the trucks struggle across the savannah like rocking boats the land is dusty and dry strangers would get lost on these trails as there are no signs indicating which one dirt track leads where and when Siku knows the region like the back of his hand, he still has to concentrate if, for example, you have a full load and there are people sitting on it, you have to be careful when driving because they could get sleepy if they get they fall asleep they don't hold on and the car leans to one side they can fall and they can also fall in curves if you go too fast passengers who sit on the edge have to make sure that the hard spikes of the thorns do not hit them Their eyes sting on their faces and their strength diminishes.

The heat and dust are tiring, but people take care of each other. At the end of the day, not everyone is in the same boat, but in the same truck. If you get on and don't If you hold on well you fall that's why we sit together you have to hold on to someone else who will hold on to someone else if there are too many people that's not good why did I get on? in the truck because the driver is careful also because the road is not good the driver is responsible for me and drives slowly he has stopped his minibus to take a break in day a small town along the dirt road some of the passengers have lowered and new to hit the market it is up to the drivers to make sure they have enough customers there are many minibuses competing and word spreads about which car is more comfortable and faster and which vehicle always breaks down.

Careful and responsible driving is also important. But above all, people who use minibuses as a means of transportation are in a hurry. It is important that Abdullah arrives safely. The roads themselves are very strong and they do not want to take additional risks by driving carelessly. It is normal in the bad passage that there are no stations. service on the road and they take a lot of time, you need the whole day just to go one way, you can't come and go twice, you can only drive one way in one day because the road is very difficult through the dust of the cracks. get on the minibus it gets into everything, including the passenger's legs there is more dust than air to breathe the temperature rises to almost 60 degrees your skin dries there is no escape grit your teeth and hold on people have to endure great difficulties all because In the bad roads, drivers also have problems, it is slippery everywhere because they refuse to improve the roads, if the roads were good, many mishaps would not happen, but this is part of our job as traders, if we did not have that, we would not do it we would do. to be traveling here in places where almost no one travels and vehicles rarely break the silence of the savannah with their noise there is hustle and bustle on market days it is rush hour on the dirt roads of marley the roads are full of people and their animals since dirt roads are not made For many vehicles,

dangerous

situations occur again and again.

Did you see when it passed so close to us that we leaned forward to protect ourselves from the dust? That's why we fear that cars, horses and carts are better, we don't like cars, they get up. a lot of nonsense we drive very slowly I am afraid of cars since many buses and trucks began to circulate on dirt roads along with the donkey in horse-drawn carts there have been more accidents the different speeds do not go well together the horses are scared because they don't They are used to cars whizzing by like lightning. They are used to a different pace.

Life in the savanna has a slower pace than life in the city. For these people, a horse and cart are still the most affordable means of transportation. transportation does not need a gas station or garage many buses are a threat to this infrastructure there is competition between us they absolutely do not want us to transport people if everyone can earn some money that is good but they want to carry all our passengers and we have nothing left that's how things are The carts drawn by horses and donkeys are still the majority. The horse-drawn cart is approaching Diondjori, where there is a market today.

The passengers of the two trucks have also arrived at Dyongyogi. After the trip through the bush, Ajay is relieved every time the transport goes. Well, although the towns are not very far from each other, 20, 30 or 50 kilometers at most, traveling through the wasteland is exhausting even for experienced glory drivers. As soon as the trucks arrive, they unload them at the market. It only lasts a few hours, so Traders and customers want to make the most of them Drivers want a break but Drg and Siku have to inspect their trucks They know that some things need repair Abdullah has also arrived in Dionyori with his minibus He helps Passengers leave Happy customers are important to him Wait that his guests value his kindness and friendly treatment and travel with him again the Dion jury market is right on the Niger River in the dry season it can only be reached by land since there are no shops there in most villages, the People have to go to the markets, it is one of the few opportunities to do business and get the necessary supplies.

Drga and cecu apprentices only fix the things they are skilled at, usually they are the small things, the screws they have. loose because of the vibration or the hood that doesn't close because the trucks are old, something always needs to be fixed when you've been driving for a week, you need to check the whole car, we were supposed to rest today, but if we did, we wouldn't. Be good, we need to check the car, what happened on the trip, where did something tear off, what came loose, we need to maintain it all the time, on the last trip there was a problem with the starter motor, the drg suspects there is a problem with the alternator.

Together with his apprentice he goes to a workshop on the outskirts of the market to have it inspected. Only in the largest towns are there mechanics if the truck breaks down in the mountains. He is alone. He knows his trucks very well before leaving. tomorrow again on the dirt road he wants to make sure his truck is in good condition the market ends early in the afternoon people are going home the wind blowing dust across the savannah has subsided temperatures will cool during the night, but only for a few hours drj has taken some clients and their goods to a remote village before dawn he is traveling in the land of the pearl the tribe of cattle ranchers who live nomads throughout west africa the pearl wandered through the savanna with his livestock always looking for food for his animals except animals and some shepherds drj he doesn't meet anyone if his truck breaks down he will now be alone with his apprentice a helper and some passengers there is no mobile reception to get help it is a disturbing void there are no mechanics no workshops or spare parts spare parts depots on the road if we break down we have to fix it ourselves sometimes there are bandits who can be scary it has happened to me twice they made people get out of the car and made them lie down on the ground they searched their pockets and They left They let everyone continue They didn't kill anyone They didn't even fire their weapons They just shot in the air They threaten to take your money and disappear again Today the bandits are not the problem TJ feels that something is wrong with the chassis of the truck he calls your apprentice to check what's wrong, I'll get off, move the propeller shaft a little, oh, just shake it a little and check it, look back, turn the propeller shaft and pull it to the center, check the center, how is it, next working if it is.

Still okay, we'll change the ball bearings when we get there. We continue, we leave although his apprentice found nothing. DJ wants to be sure, he prefers to trust his instincts and experience rather than assume that. the driveshaft ball bearings will hold up not two weeks go by without us having to weld something these trucks are old we weld something on every trip you take and something breaks and you need to change the spring and siku drives a legendaryfrench vehicle a more beautiful truck even though production stopped more than 30 years ago seku I can't think of a better truck for the desert and savanna this berlier is my fifth the fifth we never sold any of them only when they no longer work we will buy a new one the broken down trucks are spare parts for this one one of the broken down ones is our pharmacy if anything is missing here we will take it out of there and put it here in town diege wants to get it replacement ball bearings for his driveshaft since there is no supplier for parts like that, he checks that one of Seku's old trucks was left on the edge of a square dng and his apprentice checks if the ball bearings are really better than the ones in his truck the men are skepticalrj prefers to buy new trj he would never take his truck to the next bigger city where there is a parts depot, he would be gone for days and his losses would be huge, that's why he asked abdullahi that the center ball bearing is useless.

I checked it and it can't be used when you go to see Jenny. Can you get me one? No problem. I can bring you one. Will you make it to Messina? We will do it once a week. It's cleaning day. Trucks should shine in their former glory. It's a homework. For drj apprentice we wash the engine so that it recovers when there is a lot of dirt it heats up that is why we remove the oil and everything then it will not heat up as much and it can also happen that the engine becomes covered in dirt and then a screw falls out somewhere and you can't even see it because of all the dirt you don't see anything the water of the Niger river inspires the men to clean especially thoroughly and also because the whole process is a refreshment for them oh man that road is a mess it couldn't be worse you start before dawn and you drive until four in the afternoon if there was a paved road to tanenko we wouldn't need more than two hours yes no more than two hours before the trip can continue we have to change a flat tire you're done now let's go okay so put it in if the nuts don't go in easily leave them your pettiness annoys me you always keep an eye on me do your job and let me do mine you're making me nervous here it's late before the trucks can leave for the drivers no problem they can camp anywhere but first they have to take your passengers home so the advantage of driving at night is that the air also cools down.

Trucks can go faster with their headlights, they can distinguish potholes and ditches better. They have camped in the middle of the savanna with their companions. Here they feel at home and enjoy their life as a truck driver. It have been a long day. hunger will be a quick meal the men talk about their vehicles the state of the dirt roads and the weather during the dry season they are on the road day and night even on weekends in those seven months they earned the money for the whole year a few hours of sleep and they start again in the morning it's hot again it hasn't rained for months many towns in the savannah are far from the important transport routes for these people it is a blessing that a truck comes to them once a week, In this way they can buy in the distant market.

Siku personally makes sure that each passenger pays the fare, which is equivalent to about 50 cents, it's not much for a trip of almost an hour, but for people who have very little, it's a lot of money siku will accept anyone who wants to come no there is a maximum number of people who can find space in the truck people would not go to the market without the truck siku is proud to be indispensable for the inhabitants of the region when it comes to roads my father earned a reputation in his time Then I arrived and thank God I was able to build a reputation.

My father's car, where he didn't go, no market could develop and I'm the same where I can't go, no other car can go. There will be no market. I really left my mark. donkey means that the market is not far now for most people market days are the only distraction in the everyday monotony, what people in other places take for granted, such as buying and selling basic necessities, becomes In a great effort and fight for survival in the Malian savanna, people have to travel for a whole day to get a few tomatoes, fruits, some noodles and, occasionally, a piece of meat and a bar of soap the road means great discomfort for anyone on a trip like this around here the road is not good the way people get on the truck we are standing from one place to another it is a great agony your legs no There is no relief, that is which makes it so difficult.

Abdullahi intends to cross the Niger at this time of year. The river is a mere stream compared to its size after the rainy season. In some places it then becomes so wide that you can't see the other side abdullahi wants to get the ball bearing for the drg truck in geneva the city is 150 kilometers away the nisha is like a border on the other side of the river the vegetation is more lush and the roads are paved driving a taxi is not a dream job for abdullahi he does it to feed his family I am the oldest and I have three younger brothers they put all their hopes in me if someone gets sick I step forward yes Someone needs something, I take a step forward, that's why I came to have a job.

I have never seen anyone from the town who goes to work in the town or in the mountains. If you see me here driving through the bush, I will be bad off the paved roads of the larger cities. I will tempt people to drive faster. Some accidents happen. A truck loaded with tons. of corn wanted to overtake another truck and went out of control because at night there was little traffic there was no crash the drivers were lucky they escaped with minor injuries abdullahi has arrived at jenny with his wonderful clay mosque in the center of the city the plaza main he knows a dealer who sells parts for Bellier trucks I need a ball bearing what kind of ball bearing is it for our belly truck this is a ball bearing for the center how much does it cost give me five thousand for it oh big brother five thousand a lot for those times are difficult around here i think 5000 is a good price let's not digress let's agree 4 000 now oh dear man give it to me for 4 000 you know we don't make much money with our old vehicles on the other side of the niger in the masina siku region and their truck arrives at the market its passengers have survived the trip quite shaken but unharmed they only have a few hours to look around and do business before returning most of the time they know each other because they regularly take the truck to the markets but how they belong to different peoples living in this area, they often do not speak the same language.

Seiku is warmly received by the village elders. They have known him since he was a child and he used to accompany his father here along the Niger there are always markets the large livestock markets are quite rare from afar, to the Sahara and the neighboring countries, Mauritania and Niger the livestock traders come to They often travel for days and weeks to sell their livestock. The chances of doing business are good because La Perla likes to buy cattle, sheep and goats to repopulate their flocks and flocks. Siku, the beloved jay, and his apprentices and assistants are sitting in the shade of the trucks waiting for the market to end, before they are resting. the next trip they are a community that stays together for example in the rainy season a car can get stuck so it is easier when several people travel together also when one of them breaks down many people can help when the car does not start they can help each other and when something else breaks down they meet and fix it together the radiator has a leak on janae's way back abdullah has problems with his minibus a mechanic fixes the leak temporarily if abdullahi wants to reach the agreed meeting point with drj on time he has what to hurry up abdullahi arrived just in time before drj left again i got this for you that's exactly that's exactly thank you very much thank you thank you for trusting me trg doesn't have time to fit the ball bearing It's already late, wait for the shaft transmission lasts until the next stop, but first the passengers must take their places, the engine must be running, and none of the passengers must fall out of the truck.

Dirt tracks have no beginning or end. It is an endless circulation between the villages along dirt roads for many months when the rainy season arrives they disappear until they reappear made by the drivers and their cars oh no, it doesn't get boring, it's work, it's your livelihood like that that you have to work and everyone has their own job understood day and night it doesn't get boring it is our job after all and our job is this because we love it no matter how well the drivers know the way it will always be a journey into the unknown you