Mali centralises control of gold sector with new presidential mining role

Mali’s military led government has taken a decisive step to tighten control over its most valuable industry by creating a new ministerial level role dedicated to overseeing the country’s mining sector.

The move places the gold industry under the direct supervision of the presidency, reinforcing state authority over policy, compliance and strategic decision making in a sector that remains Mali’s largest source of revenue.

The newly established role shifts significant responsibilities away from the traditional mines’ ministry. Legal documents show the minister will supervise the implementation of mining policies, monitor adherence to the mining code and review operational reports submitted by mining title holders, functions previously handled by the mines ministry.

According to a presidential decree issued on January 19, Hilaire Bebian Diarra has been appointed to the position. Diarra, an earth science specialist, joined the government last year after serving as a senior executive at Barrick Mining, where he led negotiations over control of the Loulo Gounkoto gold complex.

Diarra, a Malian national, was previously named special adviser to the presidency during an intense dispute surrounding Mali’s largest industrial gold mine.

That standoff unfolded as Assimi Goita’s government pushed for higher taxes and increased state participation in mining projects, a move widely viewed as a strategic setback for the Canadian mining giant Barrick. Diarra was not immediately available for comment.

Mali is among Africa’s leading gold producers and calls for tighter oversight of the mining sector have grown louder in recent years. National mining forums have repeatedly urged the creation of stronger structures to address security concerns, regulatory compliance and the social and environmental impacts of mining activities.

A senior government official confirmed that the presidency has now assumed a central role in mining oversight. Key exploitation permits are decided at the presidential level, while major contract negotiations, including the Barrick dispute, are conducted directly from the presidential palace.

Under the new framework, the finance ministry oversees fiscal matters, while the mining ministry focuses primarily on regulation.

The appointment comes as Mali continues to enforce its tougher 2023 mining code, which the government says helped recover 761 billion CFA francs or 1.2 billion dollars in unpaid revenues. While the revised code has unsettled mining companies, it has also strengthened state finances.

However, the tougher framework contributed to a two-year standoff with Barrick, with provisional mines ministry data showing industrial gold production declined by 23 percent in 2025.