Contractor Exit and Layoffs Deepen Uncertainty at Mali’s Loulo-Gounkoto Gold Complex
Over 600 Jobs Cut as Contractor Exits Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto Gold Mine in Mali Amid Ongoing Disruptions
A key contractor at Mali’s Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex, the country’s largest gold mining operation, is winding down its activities and laying off more than 600 workers. The move adds to ongoing instability surrounding one of Africa’s most significant gold assets.
Gounkoto Mining Services (GMS), a contractor linked to France-based Bouygues Construction through DTP Mining, is ending operations after its agreement is not expected to be renewed by Barrick Mining in 2026.
The decision follows months of tension between Barrick and the Malian government over taxation, ownership structures, and operational control of the mine.
GMS has been responsible for mining activities at the Gounkoto open pit mine and the Yalea North site.
The company has issued termination notices to over 600 employees, with affected workers currently serving notice periods after completing required medical checks.
Production at both Gounkoto and Yalea North has yet to fully recover following earlier disruptions, including a period of provisional state administration before Barrick regained control of the complex in December.
Located in western Mali, the Loulo-Gounkoto complex is the country’s largest gold producer and one of Barrick’s most valuable assets, generating approximately $900 million in revenue in 2024.
However, output has declined significantly due to operational interruptions, contributing to a broader 23% drop in Mali’s gold production in 2025.
Barrick has since revised its outlook for the site, lowering production expectations for 2026 and excluding Gounkoto from parts of its planning assumptions.
The mine produced around 80,000 ounces of gold in the first quarter of 2026 and is forecast to produce about 103,000 ounces in the second quarter, still below historical production levels before the dispute began.
Despite partial recovery from earlier disruptions, output remains well below long-term averages, underscoring the impact of political and operational uncertainty on the asset.
Mali’s mines ministry described the contractor’s departure as an internal matter, while Barrick Mining and DTP Mining have not yet issued public comments on the development.
