Patriots Break Through Firewall with Anti-Migration Amendments in Mali Resolution

When you’re used to being under a cordon sanitaire in Brussels, every little victory counts.  On Thursday, June 19th, the Patriots for Europe (PfE) group managed to break the anti-conservative alliance of the “center-right” EPP and the left-wing parties by …

RLI: The factory in Mali became a key to shadow financing of wars

Russia is actively using Africa as a tool to bypass sanctions, strengthen geopolitical influence, and finance its covert military operations. A central element of this strategy is the Russian gold processing plant in Mali. Officially, it is said to be …

Mali Begins Construction of Russian-Backed Gold Refinery

Mali has launched construction of a gold refinery near Bamako in partnership with Russia’s Yadran Group, marking a bold step toward “economic sovereignty,” according to junta leader Gen Assimi Goïta. Since his 2021 coup, Goïta has pivoted Mali’s alliances …

Terrorism: ECOWAS Strikes Security Deal With Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger

Share The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reached an understanding with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to collaborate on addressing terrorism and violent extremism in the region. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu …

Barrick’s future in Mali hinges on gold mine permit renewal

The permit for Loulo, where processing facilities are located, expires in February, shortly after the period of provisional administration is supposed to end. Barrick filed a renewal request four months ago, a spokesperson for the company said, adding that …

Mali partner with Russian conglomerate to build gold refinery

Mali’s military junta, led by General Assimi Goïta, initiated the construction of a state-controlled gold refinery in Senou, near the capital Bamako, in collaboration with Russian conglomerate Yadran Group. The refinery, operated by the newly formed SOROMA …

Tuareg Groups Accuse Mali, Russian Mercenaries of War Crimes

Recently, several Tuareg organizations appealed to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, accusing the armed forces of Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as mercenaries from the Russian group “African Corps” (formerly the Wagner …

Mali gov’t takes control of Canadian-owned Barrick Gold mine

A judge in Mali on Monday ordered Barrick Gold’s Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex to be placed under provisional administration for six months in an ongoing dispute between the Canadian mining company and the West African nation’s military government over …

Mali breaks ground on $130bn-a-year gold refinery

Mali is one of the largest gold producers in the world. However, this has not been reflected in the money flowing into state coffers. In recent years, the tax collected by Mali from international mining companies has varied between about $1bn and, in 2024, …

Regional Development: ECOWAS to maintain status quo with Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso pending new agreement