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Sources: Mali mining convoy attacked on the road to Allied Gold Sadiola mine

Two people who were familiar with the incident said that the attack took place over the weekend in the Kayes area. The convoy was transporting heavy equipment from Bamako, the capital of Mali, to Allied Gold Sadiola Mine.

The attack highlights the increased security risks and costs that mining companies in Sahel-led states, which are struggling to contain Islamist militants groups, face.

Attacks on mining equipment are rarer than attacks on government or military convoys in Mali.

Fortuna, a Canadian gold mining company, announced this month that it had recently decided to leave Burkina Faso's neighbor Mali due to increased security concerns arising from jihadist threats.

One source familiar with the incident reported that two large trucks had been set on fire, an excavator damaged, and two pickup trucks stolen in the attack of Sunday. The attack has not yet been claimed by any group.

Sources said that the equipment belonged to local Caterpillar dealer Neemba, and was leased by Mota-Engil to operate at Sadiola's quarries.

Sources say that eight people, all employees of Neemba, were not injured in the attack. The Malian soldiers who were nearby disrupted the attack.

Sources said that the incident occurred between Diema, and Sandare. Separately, a security source confirmed that an attack took place at the same location on Sunday but could not provide any further details.

A spokesperson for Allied Gold and Mota Engil, as well as a representative of the Mali army, did not respond immediately to comments.

Mali, Africa's leading gold producer, is home to mining companies such as Barrick Gold, B2GOLD Resolute Mining Endeavour Mining and Hummingbird Resources, which are active in its gold-rich west and south regions.

The company reported that in February 2024 three employees of B2Gold, a Canadian mining company, were killed during an attack against a convoy carrying them from Fekola, a gold mine located in southwest Mali, to Bamako.

Two sources who were familiar with the incident said that two buses had been mistakenly viewed as a military consignment.

In recent years, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger all experienced military coups carried out by officers who vowed that they would push back jihadists groups affiliated with Al Qaeda or the Islamic State. However, insecurity remains rampant in each of these countries. (Reporting and editing by Robbie Corey Boulet and Jan Harvey; Portia Crowe, Dakar)

(source: Reuters)