add content hereMali has issued an arrest warrant for Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow, accusing him of money laundering, sources revealed Thursday.
The warrant, part of a larger dispute between the Canadian firm and the Malian state, targets the South African-born executive. Bristow, who is not in Mali, faces legal action as the junta tightens its grip on foreign mining operations.
Barrick Gold, alongside the Malian government, co-owns the massive Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine, one of the world’s largest mining complexes.
Four local employees of Barrick Gold were detained in November, and the company now faces further scrutiny over financial allegations.
The Malian court also issued an arrest warrant for Cheikh Abass Coulibaly, managing director of Loulo-Gounkoto, citing similar charges.
Mali’s ruling junta, in power since a 2020 coup, seeks to ensure a “fairer distribution” of wealth from foreign-dominated mining operations.
The military authorities have steadily increased control over the sector, targeting key firms amid rising economic and political challenges.
Gold mining remains Mali’s economic backbone, contributing 25% of the national budget and 75% of export revenue.
Recent reforms have boosted Mali’s stake in both gold and lithium mines, signaling a strategic shift in resource governance.
The state announced a 30% ownership in lithium mines and various gold projects, enabled by a revised mining code from August.
Mali’s pivot toward Russia and away from France underscores its broader economic and geopolitical realignment.
While details of the allegations remain unclear, the dispute highlights growing tension in Mali’s lucrative mining sector.
Barrick Gold has described the conflict as centering on the state’s share of economic benefits, a sign of deeper frictions ahead.
