DAKAR: Malian authorities have shut the Canadian miner Barrick Gold`s office in the capital Bamako over the alleged non-payment of taxes, two sources close to the matter said, in the latest escalation of a protracted dispute over mining revenues.

Barrick confirmed in a statement that departments within the government this week closed Barricks Bamako office and threatened to place the suspended Loulo-Gounkoto mine under provisional administration unless the mine was reopened and tax payments were made.

The Toronto-based miner and Mali have been in a dispute since 2023 over the implementation of the West African country`s new mining code that gives Mali`s government a greater share in the gold mine.-Reuters