Barrick Mining has signed a new collective bargaining agreement with unions representing workers at its Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine in western Mali, averting strikes that unions had planned to launch the following Monday. A Barrick spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the company had signed a new agreement with the Loulo-Gounkoto unions, while union official Bani Sacko separately confirmed the walkout had been called off.
The dispute centered on a list of 15 demands submitted by unions at operating subsidiaries Somilo SA and Gounkoto SA, focused on overtime pay, reimbursement of mission and travel expenses, and implementation of existing labour agreements. Workers at catering contractor Food & Events Africa had separately called a five-day walkout over welfare demands, while the mine unions had threatened four-day strikes running from 28 September to 1 October. Separate strike notices were also filed by workers at Mali's mining regulator and other mining administration agencies, though it is not confirmed whether those disputes were resolved by this agreement. None of the available reporting discloses the specific wage or compensation terms agreed, only the categories of grievances addressed.
According to Sacko, the substance of the agreement was reached in a meeting on 21 September, ahead of the public announcement six days later — leaving some ambiguity about whether 27 September marks the formal signing or simply public disclosure of an earlier resolution.
The labor deal is distinct from, but follows directly on, a broader and longer-running standoff between Barrick and Mali's military-led government over the 2023 mining code and control of the mine itself. That dispute saw Mali place Loulo-Gounkoto under provisional state administration in June 2025 after Barrick halted operations, detained staff, and roughly three tonnes of Barrick gold were seized by the state, before a November 2025 settlement — in which Barrick agreed to pay 244 billion CFA francs (about $430 million) and accepted the 2023 mining code — restored the company's operational control. Mali subsequently renewed Barrick's Loulo mining permit for 10 years in February 2026.
Loulo-Gounkoto produced approximately 190,000 ounces of gold in the first half of 2026 after resuming operations, underscoring the mine's importance to both Barrick's output and Malian state revenue. Analysts note that while this agreement removes a near-term production risk, the underlying policy exposure from Mali's expanded revenue claims under the 2023 mining code remains unresolved and continues to inform investor risk assessments of Barrick's Mali operations. Specific wage terms, the status of the separate strike notices from mining-regulator staff, and third-quarter production data will indicate whether any residual disruption occurred.