Suspected jihadists attacked the Morila gold mine in southern Mali over the weekend, setting fire to equipment and taking seven employees hostage.
According to Mali’s mining ministry, the attack happened on Saturday at the mine, where U.S.-based Flagship Gold recently signed a deal to restart production.
All seven hostages were safely released the following evening, and no employees were killed in the incident.
The Malian army has since taken control of the site and is conducting a sweep of the area.
This attack highlights the increasing security risks for Mali’s vital gold industry, which has become a target for militant groups.
