Mali announced on March 5th the suspension of new artisanal mining permits for foreigners following a series of deadly accidents in recent weeks.
The decision came after the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in the Kayes region on 15th February, which claimed the lives of 43 people, mostly women. Earlier, on 29th January, a flooding incident in a gold mine tunnel in southwest Mali resulted in the deaths of 13 artisanal miners, including women and children.
In response to these fatalities, the Council of Ministers convened on Wednesday and resolved to suspend permits for foreign nationals involved in artisanal mining. The government also approved the dismissal of administrative and security officials associated with the two tragic incidents. The country, one of Africa’s leading gold producers, has faced growing scrutiny over safety in its mining sector, particularly after the military coup in 2020, when authorities vowed to ensure the state benefited more from gold revenues.
Mali has seen increasing tensions with international mining companies, including Barrick Gold and B2Gold, since the military takeover. Despite being home to major industrial gold mines, the country’s gold production fell by 23% in 2024, reflecting the challenges within both the industrial and artisanal mining sectors.