Two people have "locked in" 140 guests and 30 employees in an ongoing hostage-taking at the Radisson hotel in Bamako, the hotel chain said in a statement on Friday.

"The Rezidor Hotel Group... is aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today, 20th November 2015. As per our information two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees," the company said.