It was announced last Thursday that the Malian justice system issued an arrest warrant against the CEO of the Canadian company Barrick Gold, owner with the Malian state of one of the largest gold complexes in the world.

The arrest warrant issued by the Malian justice system targets Mark Bristow for “money laundering”. This mandate was signed this week in the midst of a dispute between the Malian state and the company, in a context of increased pressure exerted on foreign mining and gold companies by the ruling junta. Barrick Gold owns 80% and the Malian state 20% of the two companies that own the Loulo-Gounkoto underground and open-air complex in western Mali. The charges against Barrick Gold are not known