Chief Executive Terence Holohan and two other employees have been detained by government officials in Mali, where the Australian company runs gold-mining operations.

A military junta has detained the CEO and two other executives of Australian gold miner Resolute Mining over a royalties dispute in the West African nation of Mali. Terry Holohan, CEO of West Australian-based Resolute, and two other staff were detained by Malian authorities on Friday following a meeting in the capital, Bamako.

Resolute Mining CEO and executives detained in Mali while addressing concerns over in-country practices. Escalating risks for foreign mining operations.

RESOLUTE Mining confirmed its CEO Terence Holohan, and two company employees, were detained by government officials in Mali on Friday. “The executives were in Bamako to hold discussions with the mining and tax authorities regarding general activities related to the company’s business practices in Mali in addition to progressing open claims which have been made

Mali’s military junta — crippled by sanctions and cut off from Western aid — is at the forefront of the push, aggressively pursuing both Resolute and Barrick Gold.

Terry Holohan, chief executive officer of Australian gold miner Resolute Mining Ltd., has been detained by the military-controlled government of Mali in West Africa, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Australian gold producer Resolute Mining Ltd. dropped the most in 16 years after the company’s chief executive officer was detained in Mali.Most Read from BloombergThe Leaf Blowers Will Not Go QuietlyArizona Elections Signal Robust Immigration Enforcement Under TrumpScoring an Architectural Breakthrough in Denver’s RiNo DistrictKey Ballot Initiatives and Local Races Highlight Views on Abortion,