Four employees of Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold, detained last week in Mali, have been released, a judicial source revealed on Monday. Barrick Gold operates one of the world’s largest gold mining complexes in partnership with the Malian government, which has been under junta rule since a 2020 coup.
The source, speaking anonymously, confirmed the arrests and subsequent release of the employees but did not disclose the reasons for their detention, their roles, or their identities.
Foreign mining firms in Mali have faced growing scrutiny from the junta, which has expressed intentions to secure a fairer share of the nation’s mining revenues. Barrick Gold acknowledged tensions with the authorities earlier in July, though specific details were not provided.
Mali, one of Africa’s leading gold producers, remains one of the poorest countries in the world despite its vast mineral wealth. In August 2023, the country adopted a new mining code, allowing the state to claim up to a 30% stake in new mining projects and eliminating tax exemptions traditionally granted during the mining process.
Barrick Gold controls 80% of two companies that operate the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex in western Mali, with the Malian government holding the remaining 20%.