12:12 PM EST, 12/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Barrick Gold ( GOLD ) chief executive Mark Bristow faces a warrant for his arrest in Mali as the company's legal issues in the West African country continue to run hot, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said warrants have been issued for Bristow and Abbas Coulibaly, the general manager of the company's Loulo-Gounkoto complex in the country.

The warrants follow on the arrest of four Barrick employees from the complex in November on charges the company refutes, as Mali's government seeks an improved deal on its share of profits from Loulo-Gounkoto, which is expected to produce up to 560,000 ounces of gold this year, according to company guidance.

Bloomberg said Mali has not made its demands public, but noted Barrick has offered US$370 million to settle a tax claim arising from a government audit. The country's military junta has threatened to suspend the company's Loulo concession when it license expires in 2026.

Barrick shares were last seen down $0.66 to $23.79 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Price: 23.78, Change: -0.67, Percent Change: -2.74