Mali’s ruling junta tightens its grip over politics, media, and lucrative mining sector

Mali’s ruling junta further seeks to tighten its grip over the West African nation, as it has imposed bans on the activities of political parties and media coverage of political life, and it may also be reportedly seeking to use Russia’s mercenary Wagner mercenaries to threaten a take-over of Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine.

Repression in Mali has been systematic since the military took power in a coup in 2021 and the junta’s leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, has been accused of not being genuinely interested in a “return to democracy.” Only a day after barring all activities of political parties and groups, Mali’s military regime has also banned the media from reporting on activities of political parties and associations. The country’s highest authority for communication ordered that the ban should apply to all forms of the media, including television, radio, newspapers, and journals. But the umbrella organization that represents journalists in Mali said it rejected the demand and called on the media to continue to report on politics in the country.

Also, foreign companies operating in the country have come under increasing pressure as Mali’s military regime seeks to tighten its grip on the lucrative mining sector. According to reports by The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, Russian mercenary Wagner has now threatened to take over the control of Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine in the West African country that is run by the Toronto-based Barrick Gold company.

After seizing power in a coup in 2021 and subsequently partnering up with the Wagner Group, the Mali junta has been focusing on the mining industry. After Russian soldiers in January seized the Intahaka gold mine, the largest artisanal site in northern Mali, the military regime is now reportedly planning to take control of Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto, one of the world’s largest gold mines.