Mali said on Wednesday it was suspending licenses for foreign artisanal gold mining companies after a series of fatal accidents in the West African country, one of Africa’s top three gold producers. Gen.

Gold producer Mali hosts operations by international companies such as Barrick Gold, B2Gold, Resolute Mining and Hummingbird Resources.

At least 49 people, many of them women, were killed after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Mali last month.

Mali is suspending the granting of new artisanal mining permits to foreigners, after a couple of accidents in recent weeks left dozens dead.

Mali, Africa's second-largest gold producer, has suspended the issuance of new mining permits to foreign companies. ・Mali suspends issuance of new mining permits to foreign companies ・Decision follows a devastating mining accident that claimed over 40 lives ・Reforms in the mining sector aim to increase state benefits from gold production According