A convoy transporting heavy mining equipment from Bamako to Allied Gold’s Sadiola mine was attacked in the Kayes region of Mali, reported Reuters, citing two people with knowledge of the incident.
The incident underscores the escalating security threats faced by mining companies in the Sahel states, where Islamist militant groups are increasingly active.
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The attack has not been claimed by any group. The eight Neemba employees present during the incident were reported to be unharmed due to the intervention of nearby Malian soldiers.
The incident destroyed two large trucks, damaged an excavator and resulted in the theft of two pick-up trucks.
The equipment, leased from local Caterpillar dealer Neemba to subcontractor Mota-Engil, operating at Sadiola’s quarry, was targeted between the towns of Diema and Sandare.
While attacks on government and military convoys are more common in Mali, assaults on mining logistics have been infrequent until now.
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By GlobalDataMali is one of Africa’s top gold producers, with several international mining companies including Barrick Gold, B2Gold, Resolute Mining, Endeavour Mining and Hummingbird Resources operating in the country’s gold-rich western and southern regions.
The region continues to grapple with instability, despite recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that brought military officers to power.
In February 2024, a fatal attack on a B2Gold convoy, which was reportedly mistaken for a military convoy, led to the death of three employees.
The CEO of Fortuna, a Canadian gold mining company, stated that increasing security threats were a key factor in its decision to withdraw from Burkina Faso, Mali’s neighbouring country.
