Barrick Gold Employees Charged Amid Mali’s Push for Mining Revenue
Four employees of Barrick Gold, one of Canada’s leading gold mining companies, have been charged and detained in Mali as the military-led government intensifies efforts to secure more revenue from the mining sector.
The employees, who were initially detained in September, have been re-arrested, according to a source familiar with the matter. Barrick has strongly denied the charges but has not disclosed specifics.
The company stated it is actively engaging with Mali’s government to negotiate an amicable resolution and secure the release of the detainees.
“Since September 30, Barrick has been working to finalize a Memorandum of Agreement that outlines the terms of its partnership with the government, including the state’s share of economic benefits,” the company said.
Mali, one of Africa’s largest gold producers, is reportedly demanding $500 million in unpaid taxes from Barrick as part of a broader effort to boost state revenues amidst rising gold prices.
The dispute reflects the government’s strategy to extract more financial contributions from mining companies to support its economy.
Barrick CEO Mark Bristow expressed confidence earlier this month that these disputes could be resolved by year-end.
While Mali’s mines ministry stated it is not directly involved in the case, the matter is being handled by the finance ministry and the justice ministry’s economic division.
In a similar case, Australia’s Resolute Mining recently agreed to pay $160 million to settle a tax dispute with Mali. Following the payment, its CEO and two other employees, who had been detained, were released and allowed to leave the country.
The detentions and rising tax demands highlight increasing tensions between mining companies and the Malian government. With gold prices surging, the government appears determined to capitalize on its resources, posing challenges for international mining firms operating in the region.
