Military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have made a series of moves recently to assert greater control over their mineral resources. Global gold companies have been in the line of fi

Mali's military government is holding gold seized from Barrick Gold's Loulo-Gounkoto mine site at state-owned Banque Malienne de Solidarite (BMS), two sources said, as the miner pursues plans to suspend its operations in the country.

The negotiations will focus on Mali's demand for $199m (CFA Fr125.15bn), compliance with the new mining code and the release of the seized gold.