Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita has strengthened presidential control over the country’s mining sector by creating a new ministerial-level post with sweeping oversight powers and appointing a former senior executive of Canada’s Barrick Mining to the role, according to legal documents and a presidential decree issued this month.
The move deepens the presidency’s direct involvement in Mali’s gold industry, the country’s most important source of export revenue, at a time when authorities are enforcing tougher mining rules that have unsettled international operators and contributed to a sharp fall in industrial output.
Under a decree dated January 19, Hilaire Bebian Diarra was appointed minister delegate to the presidency in charge of mining oversight. The position gives him authority to supervise the implementation of mining policy, monitor compliance with the mining code, and examine technical and financial reports submitted by mining title holders.
These responsibilities were previously handled by the Ministry of Mines, marking a significant shift of power toward the presidency.
Diarra, a Malian national and earth-science specialist, joined the government last year after leaving Barrick, where he had been involved in negotiations over control of the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex, Mali’s largest industrial mining operation. He was later named a special adviser to the presidency during a protracted dispute between the government and the Canadian miner.
More Read
That dispute, centred on demands for higher taxes and increased state participation under Mali’s revised mining framework, culminated in the state taking steps to assert greater control over the asset a move widely viewed in the industry as a strategic setback for Barrick.
Diarra was not immediately available for comment.
Presidency assumes lead role
More Read
Mali is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, and the sector has become a central pillar of the junta’s economic strategy since Goita seized power in a 2021 coup. The government has argued that previous arrangements failed to deliver sufficient benefits to the state and local communities, despite decades of large-scale mining.
Senior government officials said the presidency has now assumed the lead role in mining oversight. Decisions on key exploitation permits are taken directly at the presidential level, while negotiations with major mining companies including talks related to the Barrick standoff are conducted from the presidential palace.
Under the new structure, the finance ministry oversees fiscal matters such as taxation and revenue collection, while the mines ministry is focused primarily on regulation and technical supervision.
Officials say the reorganisation responds to long-standing calls from national mining forums and civil society groups for stronger oversight of security, environmental standards, revenue transparency and community impacts in mining regions.
Tighter rules, lower output
Diarra’s appointment comes as Mali tightens its grip on the sector under a 2023 mining code that significantly raised state participation requirements and increased taxes on mining companies.
More Read
The government said in December that the new framework had helped recover about 761 billion CFA francs ($1.2 billion) in unpaid taxes, royalties and other arrears from mining firms.
But the tougher rules have rattled investors and weighed on production. Provisional data from the mines ministry show Mali’s industrial gold output fell by 23% in 2025, reflecting operational disruptions, delayed investment decisions and disputes with major operators.
Industry analysts say uncertainty over contract terms and governance has slowed expansion plans and maintenance work at several sites, even as artisanal mining activity continues to grow.
Balancing sovereignty and investment
Authorities insist the reforms are necessary to restore sovereignty over natural resources and ensure that mining revenues better support public finances at a time when Mali faces sanctions-related pressures, rising security costs and strained relations with Western partners.
However, mining executives and industry groups warn that excessive centralisation and unpredictability could undermine investor confidence in one of West Africa’s most established gold jurisdictions.
With the presidency now exercising direct oversight of mining policy and enforcement, analysts say Mali is entering a new phase of state-led resource governance — one that could reshape relations with international miners and redefine how the country balances economic nationalism with the need for foreign investment.
For now, attention is focused on how the new structure will be implemented and whether it will stabilise the sector or prolong tensions that have already taken a toll on output and investor sentiment.
