Mali’s interim government has stopped issuing small-scale gold mining permits to foreign nationals after a series of deadly incidents, including a recent open-pit collapse that killed at least 49 people. The measure aims to reduce risks to human life and the environment connected with artisanal mining activities run by foreigners.
Interim President Assimi Goita ordered authorities to “strengthen measures to avoid human and environmental tragedies” and instructed local officials to confiscate equipment used in artisanal gold extraction by foreign operators. The decree follows growing concern over unsafe practices at informal mining sites and comes amid a broader decline in the country’s industrial gold output.
Industrial production dropped by about 23%, falling from 66.5 tonnes in 2023 to 51 tonnes in 2024. That fall coincides with heightened tensions between Mali’s military-led government and foreign mining firms, after the country introduced a new mining code that expands the state’s share in foreign-operated projects. The changes, intended to increase national control and revenue, have strained relations with some international companies.
Authorities have detained several mining executives in recent months. Among those held are four employees of Barrick Gold, detained since November on allegations that include money laundering and financing of terrorism—claims the company denies. The dispute intensified when Barrick, Mali’s largest gold producer at about 18 tonnes per year, halted operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto complex following the seizure of approximately 3 tonnes of gold by authorities citing unpaid taxes.
Despite the regulatory clampdown and high-profile detentions, Mali’s informal mining sector remains significant. Artisanal and small-scale miners continue to account for roughly one-third of the country’s industrial gold production, underscoring the persistent role of informal operations in the national economy. The government’s new restrictions seek to reduce the dangers posed by unsafe extraction methods and bring more activity under regulated oversight, but they also risk disrupting livelihoods in communities that rely on artisanal mining.
The situation highlights the complex balance Mali faces: protecting workers and the environment, asserting greater national control over natural resources, and managing relations with international investors whose involvement has been central to industrial-scale production. As authorities move to enforce the ban on permits for foreign artisanal operators and increase inspections and seizures, the coming months are likely to be decisive for the future shape of mining in Mali and for efforts to improve safety and legal compliance across both formal and informal sectors.