May 7 (Reuters) - A convoy transporting heavy mining

equipment from the Malian capital Bamako to Allied Gold's ( AAUCF )

Sadiola mine came under attack in the Kayes region

over the weekend, two people familiar with the incident told

Reuters late on Tuesday.

The attack points to expanding security risks - and related

additional costs - facing mining companies operating in

military-led Sahel states that are struggling to contain

Islamist militant groups.

While government and military convoys more frequently come

under attack in Mali, attacks on mining equipment have until now

been rare.

The CEO of Canadian gold miner Fortuna this month told

Reuters that increased security concerns due to jihadist threats

were among the reasons the company recently decided to exit

Mali's neighbour Burkina Faso.

In Sunday's attack, two large trucks were set alight, an

excavator was damaged and two pick-up trucks were stolen, one of

the sources familiar with the incident said. No group has yet

claimed responsibility for the attack.

The equipment belongs to the local Caterpillar dealer Neemba

and had been leased to the subcontractor Mota-Engil, which

operates at Sadiola's quarry, the sources said.

Eight people present - all employees of Neemba - were

unharmed in the attack, which the sources said was disrupted by

soldiers from the Malian army who had been nearby.

The incident took place between the towns of Diema and

Sandare, the sources said. A separate security source confirmed

an attack had taken place in that location on Sunday, but was

unable to provide further details.

Spokespeople for Allied Gold ( AAUCF ), Neemba and Mota-Engil and a

spokesperson for Mali's army did not immediately respond to

requests for comment.

Mali is one of Africa's largest gold producers, with mining

companies including Barrick Gold ( GOLD ), B2GOLD ( BTG ),

Resolute Mining ( RMGGF ), Endeavour Mining ( EDVMF ) and

Hummingbird Resources active in the gold-rich western

and southern regions.

In February 2024, three employees of the Canadian miner

B2Gold ( BTG ) were killed in an attack on a convoy transporting them

from the Fekola gold mine in southwest Mali to Bamako, the

company said at the time.

But two sources with knowledge of that incident told Reuters

the buses had been mistaken for a military convoy.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have experienced coups in

recent years carried out by military officers who vowed to push

back jihadist groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic

State, though rampant insecurity persists in all three

countries.