Mali detains four senior employees of Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold

Mali’s military-led authorities have detained four senior employees of Barrick Gold, a major Canadian mining company, in connection with alleged financial crimes, sources confirmed on Friday.

The arrests mark the latest challenge for international mining firms operating in the West African nation, which has undergone significant political and economic shifts since the military seized power in 2020.

Barrick Gold, the world’s second-largest gold producer and one of Mali’s top gold mining companies, has come under increasing pressure from the country’s military government.

Like other international companies in Mali, it faces growing scrutiny as the government seeks to assert greater control over its natural resources.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source close to the matter said, “The four individuals detained are senior local employees of Barrick Gold.”

The arrests reportedly took place on Wednesday, although further details surrounding the specific nature of the alleged financial crimes remain unclear.

Barrick Gold has so far declined to comment on the matter, and efforts to reach Malian authorities for a statement have been unsuccessful.

Mali is one of Africa’s largest gold producers, and its gold mining sector has become a focal point for the country’s efforts to boost state revenues.

Under a newly introduced mining law, the Malian government has sought to increase its ownership stakes in gold mining ventures, a move aimed at ensuring a larger share of profits flows into state coffers.

This policy shift is part of a broader realignment under Mali’s military rulers, who have distanced the country from traditional Western allies like France, instead strengthening diplomatic, security, and economic ties with Russia.

In 2023, Mali signed an agreement with Russia to build a gold refinery in the capital, Bamako, and entered into a partnership with Russian state-owned nuclear energy firm Rosatom to explore minerals and produce nuclear energy.

As Mali reshapes its economic and diplomatic landscape, the mining sector remains at the heart of these developments, with companies like Barrick Gold facing mounting challenges amid the changing political climate.