Mali’s military-led government, which in December seized three metric tons of gold from Barrick worth about $245 million, had given the miner until Saturday at midnight to respond to its demands, according to two sources familiar with the situation, but the deadline passed without either side announcing a breakthrough.
Mali wants Barrick to pay 125 billion CFA francs ($199 million) in back taxes, one of the sources said: if a deal is finalized, it would return the seized gold and release four Barrick executives detained since late November.
Barrick has publicly rejected the charges against its employees, without specifying what they are. According to a court document reviewed by Reuters, they include money laundering and financing of terrorism.
Barrick did not answer questions about the status of the talks and Mali’s mines ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
The dispute has ramifications…
