This article addresses the housing conditions in Bamako, the capital of Mali. Referring to the building materials and the availability of urban services, we first outline a diffentiation in housing conditions within the territory of the city, while underscoring the rudimentary nature of these conditions throughout this territory. Then, we show that these rudimentary housing conditions are not limited to tenants, but also concern a significant proportion of owner-occupiers. However the proportion of the tenants and owner-occupiers concerned varies from one type of neighbourhood to another. Finally, we examine two types of households' answers relating to their housing conditions, transforming their dwelling or moving, and we point out a difference between tenants and owner-occupiers.