An ongoing dispute over ownership stakes in Barrick’s operation in Mali has led to the arrest of mining officials, the government’s gold seizure and the company’s shutdown of its mine.

Mali's military government is holding gold seized from Barrick Gold's Loulo-Gounkoto mine site at state-owned Banque Malienne de Solidarite (BMS), two sources said, as the miner pursues plans to suspend its operations in the country.

Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold has announced a suspension of its operations in Mali due to a protracted dispute with the country’s military government over alleged unpaid taxes. The company claims that the Malian authorities have seized gold from its Loulo-Gounkoto complex and transferred it to a custodial bank,