Mali’s military government has moved to tighten its grip over one of the country’s most strategic industries, placing the gold mining sector directly under presidential authority. President Assimi Goita has created a new ministerial level position to oversee mining policy, compliance, and implementation, transferring key responsibilities away from the traditional mines ministry and into the presidency itself. The role will supervise the application of mining laws, review reports from mining title holders, and monitor compliance across the sector. The newly created position has been filled by Hilaire Bebian Diarra, an ... (full story)