Mali's President appoints former Barrick executive to new mining oversight role

A Jan. 19 presidential decree created a ministerial-level post to oversee Mali's mining sector and named Hilaire Bebian Diarra, a former Barrick executive, to the role.

Mali's military leader has created a new ministerial-level role to oversee the country's mining sector. A presidential decree dated Jan. 19 named Hilaire Bebian Diarra to the post. Diarra is an earth-science specialist who moved from Barrick to the government last year and led negotiations over the Loulo-Gounkoto complex. Legal documents show the new minister can supervise mining policy implementation, monitor compliance with the mining code and review reports from title holders. Mali is one of Africa's largest gold producers and the sector has been reshaped by a 2023 mining code and a recent dispute with Barrick. Key details: - The new role is ministerial-level and strengthens presidential oversight of the mining sector. - Official powers include supervising implementation of mining policy, monitoring compliance with the mining code, and reviewing reports from title holders. - The Jan. 19 decree appointed Hilaire Bebian Diarra, who previously worked for Barrick and served as a special adviser to the presidency during contract negotiations. - The presidency has taken the lead on mining oversight and key exploitation permits and contract talks are handled from the presidential palace, according to a senior government official. - The 2023 mining code helped recover arrears the government reported and a subsequent dispute with Barrick coincided with a reported 23% drop in industrial gold output in 2025 (provisional ministry data). Summary: The appointment concentrates oversight of mining policy and permits within the presidency while fiscal matters are being handled by the Finance Ministry and the Mining Ministry focuses on regulation. Undetermined at this time.