The CEO and two executives of the Australian company Resolute, owner of a gold mine in Mali, were arrested while they were in Bamako to discuss ongoing conflicts with the authorities, the company confirmed on Sunday, November 10. CEO Terence Holohan and his two colleagues “We were in Bamako to discuss with the mining and tax authorities the company’s business practices in Mali in general and to advance the ongoing claims against Resolute, which continues to declare them unfounded”The company stated in a press release published on its site: “Unexpectedly, the three employees were arrested after these meetings ended on Friday. »
The three executives were transferred on the same day to the center specialized in the fight against corruption and economic and financial late payment, as Agence France-Presse (AFP) learned on Saturday from a judicial and industrial source, and were taken into custody. case of alleged forgery and damage to public property.
Resolute owns 80% of the shares of the subsidiary that owns the Syama mine (southwest), while the remaining 20% is in the hands of the Malian state, according to the company’s website. “Resolute is working to reach an agreement with the Malian government that will ensure the long-term future of the Syama gold mine; At the same time, its top priority remains the safety and well-being of its employees.”indicates the company. The executives benefit from the support of the embassies and consulates of the United Kingdom and other countries present in Mali, he says.
Four employees of the Canadian company Barrick Gold, also in conflict with the Malian authorities, were detained for several days at the end of September and then released. Foreign mining companies are under increasing pressure from the junta that came to power by force in 2020 and which is paying close attention to the juicy revenues of the mining industry. This increased pressure on foreign companies coincided with the junta’s strategic pivot toward Russia.
Malian authorities have made fighting corruption and restoring national sovereignty over natural resources their mantras. Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world, also facing jihadism and a multidimensional crisis, is also one of the main gold producers in Africa. Gold contributes to a quarter of the national budget and three quarters of export earnings.
