Mali's Minister of Mines, Pr. Amadou Kéita, announced that an audit of mining companies in the country has resulted in the recovery of 761 billion CFA francs in arrears. The audit was part of efforts to clean up the mining sector, which has been a significant contributor to Mali's economy. The minister made the announcement during a press conference on the theme of "Assanissement du secteur minier au Mali: souveraineté, transparence et partenariat gagnant-gagnant" (Cleaning up the mining sector in Mali: sovereignty, transparency, and win-win partnership).
The minister emphasized that the government's goal is not to shut down the mining sector but to ensure that it operates in a transparent and responsible manner. He noted that Mali has a new mining code and a law on local content, which aim to ensure that the country's natural resources benefit the local population. The new code allows for local participation of up to 35% in mining projects, with a reserved share for national investors.
According to Minister Kéita, the audit of mining companies was necessary to restore order in the sector. He revealed that the government had suspended the processing of new mining requests since November 28, 2022, to review the mining cadastre. The minister stated that three principles guide the government's approach: sovereignty, transparency, and win-win partnership. He emphasized that the government's goal is to ensure that mining activities benefit both the companies and the local population.
The minister also announced that 90 mining permits had been canceled in October 2025 due to non-compliance with regulations. He warned that more cancellations would follow, as the government continues to verify the titles of mining companies. The minister stressed that the cancellations are not targeted at any specific nationality or sector but rather at companies that fail to meet their obligations.
Minister Kéita presented several key statistics related to Mali's mining sector. In 2025, industrial gold production declined by 22.9% to 42.2 tonnes, compared to 54.8 tonnes in 2024. However, the value of gold exports increased to 2750 billion CFA francs, up from 1610 billion CFA francs in 2024. Mining companies paid 940 billion CFA francs to the state in 2025, a record amount.
For 2026, the minister reported that gold production has increased in the first half of the year. Industrial gold production reached 23.5 tonnes, up from 18 tonnes in the same period last year. The minister expressed confidence that Mali will meet its target of 43.2 tonnes of gold production for 2026. He also noted that lithium has become a significant contributor to Mali's mining sector, with the Goulamina mine exporting lithium since June 2025.
The minister highlighted the importance of the mining sector to Mali's economy and the government's efforts to ensure that it operates in a responsible and sustainable manner. He emphasized that the government is committed to transparency and accountability in the sector and is working to ensure that mining activities benefit both the companies and the local population. The government has also established a fund to support local development and infrastructure projects.
Key points
- Mali recovers 761 billion CFA francs in arrears from mining sector audit.
- The government aims to increase local participation in mining projects to 35%.
- Mali's gold production is expected to reach 43.2 tonnes in 2026.
