This arrest has become a point of controversy regarding Mali’s vital mining sector, which is increasingly controlled by military authorities and dominated by foreigners.
According to a statement from Australian gold mining company Resolute Mining, Malian military officials arrested a senior executive of the company and two employees due to an unspecified dispute that arose during their visit to the country.
The trio, including CEO Terence Holohan, were detained last Friday in Mali’s capital, Bamako.
Andrew Wray, who is not the company’s CEO, said in a statement posted on Resolute Mining’s website that the three officials were “unexpectedly arrested” following discussions concerning “allegations” against the company, but did not provide further details.
No information has been provided regarding why the three individuals are still being held three days after their detention.
Mining Sector Overview
The Australian company has been operating for years in the large-scale Syama gold mine in the southwest of the country. It holds an 80% stake in the mine, while the Malian government owns the remaining 20%.
The arrest comes amid a broader controversy surrounding Mali’s vital mining sector, which is increasingly monitored by military authorities and dominated by foreigners. In September, four employees of Canadian company Barrick Gold were also detained for several days.
Resolute Mining stated that the allegations against the company were “baseless” and that it had complied with procedures while conducting its business in Mali. Foreign embassies, including the UK embassy, have stated that they provided assistance.
Mali, one of Africa’s leading gold producers, has long been plagued by jihadist violence, high poverty, and hunger, and is dominated by a few large foreign companies in the mining sector.
Mining companies are facing growing pressure from the military, which took power in 2020, to increase their mining revenues.
