Mali’s government has announced plans to create a fully state-owned company to manage the country’s holdings in mining operations, marking a significant step in its efforts to strengthen national control over a key sector of the economy.
In a statement released after a council of ministers meeting, authorities said the new company, wholly owned by the Malian state, will be responsible for acquiring and managing government stakes in mining firms operating in the country.
The move places Mali alongside other West African nations, including Niger and Guinea, which have recently established state-owned entities to oversee their mining interests as part of broader resource sovereignty strategies.
Mali is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, with mining playing a central role in government revenues and export earnings. The decision follows the resolution of a prolonged dispute between Bamako and Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold.
Under Mali’s military-led government, regulations in the mining sector were tightened, including the introduction of a new mining code that increased the state’s share of profits from extraction activities. Authorities argued the reforms were necessary to protect national interests and ensure fair returns from the exploitation of natural resources.
The government had accused Barrick of failing to fully pay taxes, royalties and dividends owed to the state, leading to the seizure of gold stocks and the closure of the Loulo-Gounkoto mine, one of the country’s most lucrative operations. In November last year, both sides announced that the dispute had been settled.
Officials say the creation of the state-owned mining company is intended to prevent similar conflicts in the future, improve oversight, and ensure that Mali derives greater economic benefit from its mineral wealth.
