Mali Seizes 3 Tons Of Gold From Canadian Firm, Barrick Gold

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Indeed, the military leader of Mali is not playing. From 2023 till now, he has been changing the order of things especially when it comes to the country’s gold resource. Colonel Assimi Goita is demanding that his country enjoys more benefits from its gold resources which have been under the control of foreign Western companies for decades. Is that too much to ask? These Western companies have enjoyed cheap and easy access to Mali’s gold while the country is still struggling economically. Just a few days ago, the authorities in Mali seized 3 metric tonnes of gold worth 245 million dollars from Barrick Gold, a Canadian gold mining firm that has been operating in the country for over two decades. The question is “Why did Mali seize the gold and what is the response of the Canadian firm? Let's find out.

On Monday, 12th of January 2025, a senior manager from Canadian firm Barrick Gold, revealed that three tons of gold had been seized by the authorities in Mali and transported to the capital, Bamako. The gold was taken from a mine near Kayes in the west and transported by plane and truck to the capital late Saturday. The seizure follows a warning letter sent to Barrick earlier this month from Mali’s senior investigating judge, Boubacar Moussa Diarra, saying three tons of gold would be seized. But why was the gold seized?

Well, since 2023, Mali has been embroiled in a revenue dispute with not just Barrick Gold but all the foreign mining companies in Mali. As you know, the military leader of Mali believes in the Independence and sovereignty of his country just like President Traore of Burkina Faso. This sovereignty also extends to the economy of Mali, which has been regarded as one of the poorest in Africa despite its gold and other mineral resources.