Barrick Gold and Mali Resolve Mining Dispute, Detained Employees to Be Released

By Adriano Marchese

Barrick Mining has reached a deal with the government of Mali, closing a dispute over the miner's operations in the country and clearing the way for detained employees to be released.

The Canadian mining giant said Monday that it has entered into an agreement that puts an end to all of its disputes with Mali regarding the Loulo and Gounkoto mines.

The relationship between Barrick and Mali, which has been under the control of an authoritarian military junta since 2020, revolved around a dispute over the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex, one of Africa's largest gold mines.

Mali's junta government accused Barrick of violating the country's revised mining code brought into effect in 2023, which increased taxes and required a government ownership stake in gold mining operations.

Prosecutors also pursued legal cases against Barrick staff that worked at the Loulo and Gounkoto gold mines, leading to the detention of four of the company's staff.

Under the new agreement, Mali will drop charges brought against Barrick, its affiliates and employees, and has laid out the legal steps for the release of the four detained Barrick employees.

Barrick said the provisional administration of the Loulo-Gounkoto complex will come to an end, and operational control over the complex will be handed back to the company.

Barrick said the company's subsidiaries will withdraw the arbitration claims currently pending before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 24, 2025 11:43 ET (16:43 GMT)