A judge in Mali has placed Canadian mining company Barrick Gold under provisional administration in an ongoing dispute with the military government over alleged unpaid taxes

The ruling junta in Mali is tightening its hold on the gold industry as it moves to reclaim control from established foreign operators and boost local processing capacity through investment from Russia.

Mali's Bamako Commercial Court put Barrick Mining's Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex under state control for 6 months after a prolonged standoff over taxation.