Timeline: Inside Mali’s high-stakes gold dispute with Barrick

What began as a tax disagreement has escalated into one of the most serious mining standoffs in West Africa. Mali’s transitional government has taken control of Barrick’s Loulo–Gounkoto complex, citing unpaid dues and demanding new contract terms—while Barrick insists it has met all legal obligations.

From audit findings and employee detentions to arbitration filings and court rulings, this timeline traces the key moments in a dispute that could reshape how miners operate in resource-rich but politically volatile regions.