In a recent escalation between the Mali’s Military and the Canadian Gold Mining Company – Barrick , Mali proposed to put the company under provisional administration. The Canadian Company objected to the proposal. Barrick pointed out that such proposals do not have any legal validation.
As per reports, the clash between Barrick and the Mali Junta started from 2023. The relationship between the Canadian Company and the Mali regime progressively deteriorated over the control of the goldmining operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex.
In 2024, Barrick gold corporation, had issued a statement on its official website that denied the accusations made by Mali. The Mali Ministry accused Barrick of violating terms of the agreement related to its gold mining operations.
Barrick has been pursuing for an amicable settlement with the Mali regime. It involves increasing Mali’s profit share in benefits generated by the Loulo-Gounkoto complex. Barrick paid a whopping 50 billion FCFA as part of the ongoing negotiations. Barrick gave the money in good faith to resolve differences. It rejected any claims of wrongdoing.
240 millions worth of Gold was seized by the Mali regime from the mining operations in Loulo-Gountoko. The seizure of the gold was claimed to be a part of Mali’s investigation on unpaid taxes and compliance with the mining Laws.
Consolidation of Mali Regimes’s power against the invading Jihadist Forces :
Mali Military’s crackdown on the Canadian Mining Company can be seen as part of a broader conflict. Mali Military has been waging a war against the Jihadist forces like the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an affiliate of AL-Qaeda.
Few days back, armed militants attacked an Artisanal gold mining site in the South of Mali and killed three people. Mamadou Kanté, deputy mayor of Narena said, “Early on Monday morning, terrorists carried out two attacks in the Narena commune. First, they attacked a shop belonging to Chinese nationals. They kidnapped two Chinese nationals and burned their heavy machinery used in gold mining,”
Artisanal gold mining refers to a low cost mining using cheap machinery and equipments. As per sources, this type of gold mining is spread across the south-west and south of Mali which is being controlled by the terrorist group JNIM.
N’Abaw gold basin which is located in the south-west of Gao is home to approximately 2000 miners working directly under JNIM. In addition, the Jihadist forces collect Zakat, a type of donation in return of protection for the locals.
JNIM use this type of Artisanal mining to fund their terrorist organization, including other types of revenues such as Cattle theft and Kidnapping. Last year, JNIM carried out a terror attack in Central Mali where it massacred two villages killing atleast 32 people including three children. 350 homes were torched by the Jihadist forces in the attack.
Central Mali is embroiled in ethnic and terrorist violence where the Mali military seemed to have lost control. “We have continuously asked for a military presence but the government says that the army does not have the manpower to ensure one,” says a local from Central Mali.
Islamists Militants frequently target Mali Military zones including the Politicians. 2018 bombing of G5 Sahel base on Sevare is an example. On the other hand, Mali military expelled the French forces from the country. Also, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission left Mali in December 2013. Instead, Mali Military have turned towards Russia for its military aid.
Mali’s escalation with the Canadian gold Mining Company Barrick, can be seen as a measure to cut down the influence of the West and also the consolidation of power and resources to fight against the invading Jihadist forces in the South.
