Four senior Malian employees of Barrick Gold, the world's second-largest gold miner and one of Mali's top gold producers, have been arrested in Mali on charges of financial crimes, according to multiple Western media sources.
The arrests, which reportedly took place on Wednesday, come amidst a broader shift in Mali's mining policy, aimed at increasing state control over gold revenue.
A government official confirmed the arrests, while a second source within the Malian mining sector identified the detainees as senior Barrick employees.
Neither Barrick Gold nor the West African country's authorities have made any official statements regarding the situation.