MALI SEIZES 3 TONNES OF GOLD FROM CANADIAN FIRM BARRICK. (PHOTO).

 Mali seizes 3 tonnes of gold from Canadian firm Barrick

Mali's military government has started seizing gold stocks of the Canadian mining company Barrick as part of a legal battle over the share of revenue owed to the West African state, according to an internal Barrick letter seen by The Associated Press.

The letter from CEO Mark Bristow to staff, dated on Monday, says Barrick is “awaiting official confirmation of the proper receipt by the Malian Solidarity Bank,” a government entity.

The seizure follows a warning letter to Barrick earlier this month from Mali's senior investigating judge, Boubacar Moussa Diarra, saying three tonnes of gold would be seized.

On Monday, a senior Barrick manager confirmed that three tonnes had been seized by the military government and placed in the capital, Bamako. The manager spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

Arrest warrant for CEO

According to the senior manager, the gold was taken from a mine near Kayes in the west and transported by plane and truck to the capital late on Saturday.

The Malian authorities did not immediately respond for comment.

Valued at around $180 million, the gold seizure is part of the dispute over revenues owed to the state.

In December, Mali issued an arrest warrant for Bristow for charges of alleged money laundering, and ordered the seizure of Barrick's gold reserves. The company has offered to pay $370 million.

Placed under pressure

Mali's military government previously arrested four senior executives of the Canadian mining company as part of the dispute.

They were quickly released.

Mali is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, but it has struggled for years with militant violence and high levels of poverty and hunger.

The military seized power in 2020, and the government has placed foreign mining companies under growing pressure as it seeks to shore up revenues.

Tax dispute

In November, the CEO of Australian company Resolute Mining and two employees were arrested in Bamako.

They were released after the company paid $80 million to Malian authorities to resolve a tax dispute and promised to pay a further $80 million in the coming months.