Mali Detains Canadian mining executives amid rising pressure on foreign companies

Four executives from the Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold have been arrested in Mali as the country’s military government continues to target foreign mining companies over unpaid taxes. The arrests are part of an escalating effort by the regime to extract millions in additional revenues from the mining sector.

Barrick Gold confirmed on Tuesday that employees from its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex were detained on Monday night and have since been charged. While the charges remain undisclosed, the company stated it firmly rejects the accusations. Malian authorities have not provided further comments on the matter.

This isn’t the first time these workers have faced detainment; they were briefly arrested in September. Barrick Gold has been negotiating an agreement with the Malian government to define the state’s economic share of the mine’s benefits and establish a legal framework for managing this partnership.

Mark Bristow, Barrick Gold’s CEO, expressed disappointment over the arrests, stating, “Efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution have so far been unsuccessful. However, we remain committed to resolving all disputes and securing the release of our colleagues, who have been unjustly imprisoned.”

The arrests follow a similar incident earlier this month when the CEO and two employees of Australia’s Resolute Mining were detained in Bamako, Mali’s capital. The company secured their release by paying $80 million upfront and committing to an additional $80 million in the coming months to settle a tax dispute.

This trend highlights Mali’s strategy to exert pressure on foreign mining firms. According to Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at Control Risks Group, Mali’s government is likely to continue using detentions and arrests to compel companies to comply with its demands and generate short-term revenue.

Mali, one of Africa’s leading gold producers, is undergoing significant shifts under its military government, which seized power in 2020. A recent audit of the mining sector revealed substantial amounts allegedly owed by companies, prompting authorities to draft a new mining code earlier this year.

The revised code grants a larger share of profits to the state and has been applied retroactively, creating uncertainty for foreign companies. Ochieng noted that the lack of transparency in the government’s audit and the retroactive application of the regulations have exacerbated tensions between the regime and international firms.

Some mining companies, including Canadian firms B2Gold and Allied Gold, have chosen to comply with Mali’s demands, making payments to the government and agreeing to the new code.

Mali’s aggressive approach to regulating its mining sector underscores the regime’s push to consolidate state revenues amid ongoing challenges such as jihadist violence, poverty, and hunger. However, this strategy risks deterring investment in the industry due to regulatory unpredictability and strained relations with foreign operators.

Barrick Gold continues to engage with Malian authorities in hopes of resolving the dispute and ensuring the safety and release of its detained employees.